Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam should improve his selection policy and take a leaf out of the book of captains from the past.

While talking to Cricket Pakistan in an exclusive interview, Akmal believes that pacer Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz should be included in the T20I side bearing in mind the conditions in India during the T20 World Cup.

“Babar Azam is improving as a captain with passing time. Although, he need to bring improvement in his selection policy. Inzi [Inzamamul Haq] and Younis [Khan] bhai were very strict in this matter. They valued domestic experience over short-cut selections. Babar needs to understand that this will affect team performance in the future,” said Akmal.

“The situation will be clear after the tour of England. Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz should be included in the side. Amir has four to five years of cricket left in him, while Riaz can play for another two or three years. Experience is very important. Pakistan needs mature bowlers bearing in mind the flat nature of pitches in India,” he added.

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Kamran also stated that Pakistan is winning matches against weakened opponents and could struggle when they face stronger sides.

“Luckily, the teams Pakistan has played against in the past seven or eight months have lacked their top players but I’m sure the coach, selectors and Babar know where their team stands when they will come up against the likes of India, England Australia. I don’t think they want to admit that this but things will become clear going forward,” he said.

“Players need to be selected based on domestic experience. Look at the examples of Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Fawad Alam and Imamul Haq, they have all been selected on consistent domestic performance which is now being translated in international cricket. I don’t know why the selectors are in a hurry to give young players chances. Maybe they think these players will leave Pakistan if not selected,” he added.