Warne picks his best Pakistan Test XI

Shane Warne has continued naming the best XIs from countries he has played against, this time turning his attention to Pakistan, with some interesting selections.

Warne named legendary paceman Wasim Akram skipper of his greatest Pakistan Test team of the past 25 years, while his toughest decision was leaving out leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed in favour of current Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi.

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Afridi played 27 Tests for Pakistan, the last of which was in mid-2010, scoring 1716 runs at 36.51 and taking 48 wickets at 34.6.

Ahmed played 52 Tests between 1990 and 2003, capturing 185 wickets at 32.97.

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Warne said Afridi’s all-round prowess had given him the edge when it came to a place in the greatest XI.

“Lots of good players unfortunately miss out, the toughest player to leave out was my friend and amazing leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed,” Warne wrote on his Facebook page.

“But went with Afridi as the leg spinning all-rounder, otherwise Saqlain would have had to miss out.”

Trying to fit Mushtaq into the team may also have forced Warne to leave out Waqar Younis or Shoiab Akhtar, he said.

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Younis Khan was the only current member of Pakistan’s Test team included in the XI, while Afridi is the only other player named who is still representing the country in any format.

Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail form the opening partnership in Warne’s team, with Khan slotting in at first drop ahead of former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq at No.4.

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Right-hand batsman Yousuf Yohanna, who now goes by the name Mohammad Yousuf, was included at No.5 thanks to his 7530 Test runs at an average of 52.29, ahead of Afridi at No.6 and wicketkeeper Moin Khan.

For his greatest Pakistan Test XI pace attack, Warne named Akram alongside fellow fast bowling great Younis - who is the current Pakistan coach - and fiery quick Akhtar, widely regarded as the fastest bowler of all time.

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The player credited with being the first off-spinner to master the doosra, Saqlain Mushtaq, rounds out the attack.

“Pretty imposing and talented team,” Warne said.

“Abdul Razzaq and Azahar Mahmood pushed hard too.” 

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Warne’s criteria for selecting his best teams is that he must have played against each cricketer chosen, meaning Pakistan’s greatest Test run-scorer, Javed Miandad, was not eligible for inclusion.

“Just to remind you, I have to have played a meaningful game against a player before being selected,” he said.

“Hence no Botham, Richard Hadlee, Viv Richards or Imran Khan in any teams.”

WARNE'S GREATEST PAKISTAN TEST XI (since 1990)

Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Yohanna, Shahid Afridi,

Moin Khan, Wasim Akram (capt), Saqlain, Shoiab Akhtar, Waqar Younis