Pakistan, Australia target Twenty20 future

DUBAI, Oct 3 (AFP): Pakistan and Australia look to build their squads in the shortest format of the game when they meet in the lone Twenty20 international in Dubai on Sunday, but both are missing key men.
Pakistan, who was World Twenty20 champions in 2009, will be without their key spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended from international cricket after his bowling action was found illegal last month.
Ajmal had been single-handedly shouldering Pakistan's bowling attack, having taken 85 wickets in 63 Twenty20 matches-the highest by any bowler in this format.
The wily spinner has missed only three T20 matches out of the 66 Pakistan have played since his debut in 2009.
Pakistan had a miserable World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in April where they failed to reach the last four for the first time in five editions of the tournament.
That prompted captain Mohammad Hafeez to step down, giving the responsibility to all-rounder Shahid Afridi for a second time.
Pakistan have included left-arm spinner Raza Hasan to replace Ajmal and also have an exciting leg-spinning all-rounder in Saad Nasim who is uncapped at this level.
Afridi hopes he will be able to guide the young squad towards the 2016 World Twenty20.
"We don't have to look back, who is not available. We have to think of rebuilding the squad for the 2016 World Twenty20," said Afridi.