There are no replacements for the likes of Sachin and Lara: Waqar Younis

Pakistan team lost two gems together as Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq called it quits from the game with the conclusion of the West Indies series. What would hurt Pakistan more is the dearth of batting talent in the ranks to replace the two legends who carried the weights of the team’s batting for decades. Former coach Waqar Younis feels guys like Babar Azam will have to step up for them to absorb the loss with grace.

The hurt of transition can best be understood by the example of the Sri Lankan team who have been completely off colour since the legendary pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara retired from Test cricket. For Pakistan, the challenge is equally big given both Misbah and Younis formed the backbone of their middle order.

Waqar agreed that it won’t be easy for the Pakistan selectors to find a replacement for someone who has scored over 10,000 runs in Tests but at the same time is assured of the talent in the country which makes him believe that they will eventually find players to fill in the big boots.

“You don’t easily replace players who have scored 10,000 runs in Test cricket. It’s going to take some serious professionalism to match that,” the former Pakistan pacer was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

In his opinion Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq who have shown great potential need to take more responsibility for the team’s case and lead the batting attack.

“Pakistan has some talent in the country and we need the likes of Babar Azam to step up and take responsibility, show the world how good he is. In addition, Pakistan needs Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to now become the leaders of the batting group. However, can Azhar, Asad and Babar match Younus Khan’s and Misbah-ul-Haq’s achievements? Only time will tell,” he said.

He thinks they have time and again found able players to fill in for retiring greats and gave the examples of the team finding its feet despite the retirement of Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq who are two of their best batters ever.

“When Javed Miandad retired, we were all worried about a replacement for him. It was the same when Inzamam-ul-Haq retired, but we found Younus and we found Misbah. There is always someone around the corner in Pakistan cricket to fill the gap of a leaving player.”

In the bowling department as well they have continuously found champion bowlers when one line of attack has decided to call it a day. “When Wasim Akram and I left, Shoaib Akhtar was around, and so was Umar Gul, so the replacements are there,” he added.

Having said that Waqar also mentioned that not all players can be replaced and there can be no suitable name to take it up from the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. “But having said that, for some players like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, there are no replacements. You can get a replacement for Virat Kohli, but Tendulkar will never be replaced,” he said.