Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has advised the national selectors and national team think tank to take advantage of the experience and good form of wicket-keeper Moin Khan instead of singing the old tune of grooming youngsters.

"Kamran Akmal has done well and is definitely a good future prospect but at the same time he has time on his side and if the selectors and management had decided to exploit the current good form of someone as experienced as Moin, it would be beneficial for the national team," Rashid, himself a top-class wicketkeeper, stated.

Rashid and Moin consistently dominated the wicket-keeper’s spot in the Pakistan team from 1991-92 onwards until last year when the selectors decided to introduce Akmal on a permanent basis in the team because of Moin’s poor form.

The two Karachi-based former captains were archrivals for the keeper’s spot and played a combined total of 106 Tests and 385 One-day Internationals between them over a period of 13 years.

Rashid said he was expecting the selectors to pick Moin for the West Indies tour given his excellent form in the domestic circuit. "I was surprised when they didn’t pick him; and I think it is time that the selectors and the team’s think tank should bring about a change in their mindset towards experienced players," he said.

"The top cricket nations —for example Australia and England —have always done well because of their policy of tapping a senior player when he is in form even if they’ve younger options on hand. Moin is playing well at the moment and can serve the team well until his form and fitness lasts. Until that time the selectors and management can easily enough persist with Akmal as the reserve keeper and further groom him and allow him to gain experience. He is going nowhere," Rashid argued.

The former captain, who is rated as one of the top keepers produced by Pakistan, said the selectors must have a policy of not sacrificing quality and experience just for the sake of youth. "International cricket is a tough arena and playing for your country is a matter of pride. While talented young players are always good for a team, if you have an in-form quality and experienced option available, he must be used."

He gave the recent example of Mark Boucher of South Africa. "They dropped him for poor form recently. And played a younger keeper A.B. DeVilliers against England. But once Boucher, who is 29 years of age, gained his form he was recalled to the team with De Villiers also being retained as a specialist batsman and reserve keeper.

"Moin is also only 33 and playing well so what is the purpose of making him sit on the sidelines. I think he did enough at the domestic level to warrant a recall," Rashid said.

Rashid also felt that the selectors and team management should consider the options of using Moin for the one-dayers and give Akmal more exposure in the Tests where he would learn more and become a more consistent and attentive keeper. "Keeping is all about consistency and maintaining your concentration for long periods of time. The quality of a keeper should be judged when he is out in the middle keeping wickets for 100 or more overs in a Test match, not on the basis of just 40 or 50 overs," he said, adding, "Akmal has potential and the selectors would do him justice by giving him experience of Test matches."

"If Moin’s retains his form and fitness till the next World Cup, his experience could be very handy for Pakistan. While Akmal would be there in the wings," Rashid opined and added, "Moin has been batting up the order in domestic cricket and has done well. He must not be wasted with silly arguments."

The writer of this piece is the past Captain and Wicketkeeper of Pakistan Cricket Team and Chairman of the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy (RLCA) Karachi - Pakistan. You can E-Mail to him at info@rlca.com.pk