Pak to groom youngsters in Windies

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LAHORE: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said Wednesday he hoped to use the upcoming tour of the West Indies to bring on new cricketing talent for the years ahead.

The side fly out to the Caribbean on Thursday for a tour that will include one Twenty20 international, five one-dayers and two Tests.

With express paceman Shoaib Akhtar retired and fellow fast bowler Umar Gul rested, Pakistan have selected left-armers Junaid Khan and Sadaf Hussain -- both 21 -- and 20-year-old all-rounder Hammad Azam.

"We have selected some youngsters for the tour in the hope that they get groomed and serve the country in the future," Waqar said at the conclusion of a two-day training camp in the eastern city of Lahore.

Junaid has 167 wickets in 35 first-class matches while Hussain's tally in 18 domestic matches stands at 90.

Kamran Akmal, dropped after his sloppy wicket-keeping in last month's World Cup, made way for 29-year-old Salman Ahmed while veteran batsman Younis Khan, rested for the tour, was replaced by 20-year-old Usman Salahuddin.

Salahuddin, a right-handed batsman, has scored 1505 runs in 24 domestic matches.

"We are not taking the West Indies team lightly. We also have experience at our disposal and we hope to do well on the tour," said former captain and fast bowling legend Waqar, adding that he hoped to see an improvement in his side's batting.

"Whatever shortcomings we had during the World Cup, we want to overcome. The main thing is that I want the batsmen to show improvement."

Pakistan failed to persuade former great Javed Miandad to serve as batting coach and Waqar said the team should look elsewhere.

"I don't know why we go round and round and come back to Miandad again and again. If Miandad doesn't want to do the job then we must ask someone else for help because its not an issue of technique, its an issue of slight adjustment in batsmen's scoring runs," said Waqar. (AFP)