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Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia has said that there are no immediate replacements available for senior players in Pakistan team.

Talking to reporters at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, the general maintained that when he took over impression was given that there are plenty of youngsters ready to replace senior players.

"But, I have got the rude shock that there are no immediate replacements available for senior players," he said.

What is available is not up to international standard and require technical grooming before they can represent the country, the general said while giving the example of Hasan Raza, Irfan Fazil, Yasir Arafat etc. Similar results will be given by other promising youngsters like Zahid Saeed, Mohammad Sami etc. because these cricketers need to get their techniques right.

The general said the remedy and only hope for improving the situation is the national academy which would start functioning form from the first week of November at Lahore.

Thirty promising youngsters are being shortlisted who would be trained in all aspects of cricket in this initial phase. Six or seven coaches -experts in physical training, fielding, batting, various bowling types, psychological grooming etc- will be hired to undertake the assignment. Four pitches have been prepared for the purpose to start the academy.

© The Dawn