The ICC Twenty20 World Championship may be six months away, but Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi has already prepared a blueprint to help the team retain the coveted title.
Afridi said he has made extensive plans to defend the crown in the next T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the Caribbean from April 30 to May 16, 2010.
The flamboyant all-rounder said he has already had detailed discussions with the team management including Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and coach Intikhab Alam regarding his strategies for the event.
"I've informed the chairman about my views regarding the (T20 World Cup) preparations. I told him that we need to pick around 28-30 top performers from the domestic circuit and have them attend a camp immediately after the tour of Australia," The News quoted Afridi, as saying.
Afridi, 29, said that both Butt and Chief Selector Iqbal Qasim have assured him that he will be given a free hand in the team's selection.
"It's great to receive such strong support from the chairman and chief selectors. I'm sure that we can translate it into a forceful performance in the West Indies," he added.
The swashbuckling cricketer said he is hoping to rope in a few new players, who have loads of talent, into the T20 squad.
"Youngsters like Khalid Latif can be really useful. They have the necessary firepower. Then there are bowlers like Wahab Riaz. I'm expecting Sohail Tanvir to make a successful comeback because he is very good for this format," Afridi said.
