Salman Butt backs youngsters to fill in retired seniors' shoes

Lahore, Jun.3 (ANI): Newly appointed Pakistan vice-captain Salman Butt believes that junior players would be able to fill in the gap created by retirement of some of their senior counterparts.

Talking to reporters after being appointed as Shahid Afridi's deputy, Butt said the junior players would have to perform to back their selection.

"Junior players will surely fill in place of senior players if they are given chances," The News quoted Butt, as saying.

The left-hand opener said he would prove his selection right during the upcoming Asia Cup.

Coach Waqar Younis has already asked country's cricket administrators to put in place a rotation policy to give more chances to new players during the busy schedule ahead.

"We are starting a hectic period with the Asia Cup but I think the England tour is very important for the team, where we need to adopt a rotation policy and I think some new players will come into the fray," Waqar said

While hinting that Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the subsequent tour of England would include a few new faces, Waqar said the idea is to build a strong squad for the future.

"I think the objective behind naming a number of youngsters is to encourage them and it is important that players be rotated because we have a series against South Africa in October-November this year as well," he added. (ANI)