Islamabad: Former Pakistan chief cricket selector Abdul Qadir says the national team must nurture its upcoming talent if they want to be a competitive force at the 2011 World Cup.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs to level the three-match series at Abu Dhabi on Friday as the Pakistani batting lineup crumbled in the face of some brilliant Kiwi fielding.
"Nobody knows where we are heading in terms of preparations as we struggle to compete against teams like New Zealand," Qadir told the Associated Press on Saturday. "On paper we are far better than New Zealand, but yesterday's performance raises many doubts in the minds of the Pakistani public."
Pakistan surprisingly rested in-form batsman Umar Akmal for Friday's match to accommodate Shoaib Malik in the middle-order.
Akmal, the 19-year-old younger brother of Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran, has made an impressive start to his international career this year scoring 299 runs in nine ODIs with an average of 49.83.
"How can you drop a batsman when he has impressed all around the world with his brilliant temperament?" Qadir asked. "It will only shatter his confidence and we might lose such a talented player if he continuously gets such treatment in the team."
Qadir resigned as chief selector during the World Twenty20 Cup after developing a difference with Pakistan Cricket Board officials over the selection process.
Qadir, who took 236 wickets in 67 test matches and 132 dismissals from 104 ODIs before retiring in 1993, said he had advised the PCB while he was chief selector to concentrate on "fresh legs" for one-day internationals and twenty20.
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