Pak has enough 'firepower' to defend T20 title: Raja

Lahore, Apr.27 (ANI): Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has said that though some of the key players are missing from the squad, it still has got the 'firpower' to defend the ICC World T20 title in the West Indies.

Raja said the incumbent skipper Shahid Afridi has been performing brilliantly in the shortest version of the game, and expressed the hope that he would lead the team from the front during the April 30-May 16 tournament.

"Pakistan has very good players for this format of cricket. Afridi is a very good player and he performed very well in last two editions of World Twenty20. He will be a good captain and can lead from the front. We have good players and our bowling is our strength," The Nation quoted Raja, as saying.

He also backed the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to include left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman in the squad for the T20 championship, saying conditions in the West Indies are likely to suit slow bowlers.

"If we analyse the pitches and conditions in the West Indies, selection of Rehman is justified because he is a very good spin bowler and he can also bowl well in pressure situations," Raja said.

He, however, said that Pakistan would badly miss the services of pacer Umar Gul, who had played a key role in Pakistan's title triumph in 2009.

"Pakistan will certainly miss the services of Umar Gul as he was the star performer for Pakistan in both the ICC World Twenty20 editions but this is part of the game and anyone can get injured," Raja said. (ANI)