Sydney, Dec 18(ANI): Australian coach Tim Nielsen has said that the visiting Pakistan team has made a big mistake by omitting a player of former captain Younis Khan’s calibre, while playing on the fast and bouncy tracks Down Under.

Younis had stepped down as captain and opted out of the tour of New Zealand saying that he had “lost command” of the side.

He was later not picked for the Australian Test series, as he had not played first-class cricket since the start of his temporary break from international cricket.

“It’s always hard to replace experienced players who’ve been to Australia or played all over the world, that’s what makes them excellent players,” The News quoted Nielsen, as saying.

“When you lose someone who’s also had the experience of being the captain and also a leader in their group, it will be challenging for them if we can put them under pressure, for their younger players to have to cope with those things,” he added.

Nielsen further said that the Aussies would not make the mistake of taking the Pakistan team lightly.

“It’s something we’ll try to capitalise on, the fact they may be a little inexperienced at different times in their middle order, but we certainly won’t be taking them any lighter because he’s not there,” he said.

According to reports, Younis had a chat with Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim earlier this week in which he expressed his keenness to return to the domestic circuit.

He is expected make his comeback with the one-day series opener against Australia in Brisbane next month. (ANI)