Axed Pakistan captain Waqar Younis offered a most unconvincing defence of his tenure after being removed from the post on Wednesday, and it was left to his stop-gap replacement Rashid Latif to give a frank assessment of the national team's current crisis.

Waqar stated there could be "no excuses" for his team's atrocious World Cup performance, but argued his removal from the post of skipper was unreasonable.

He said he was being judged on a few tactical choices which might have been overlooked had the Pakistan batsmen been scoring runs and the bowlers routing opponents.

"It would be unjustified if only the captaincy is the reason of my sacking," said Waqar.

"I think we didn't bat and bowl as well as we should have.

"Overall, the team's performance was below par and we have no excuses to offer.

"I believe we were wrongly labelled as favourites. We didn't realise the team had been on a losing streak and not doing well before the World Cup."

Latif expects the younger generation to be given their chance and insisted that Pakistan's miserable last 12 months means their opportunity to shine cannot come too soon.

It is understood just five of Pakistan's World Cup squad will be selected on Thursday for next month's Sharjah Cup trip, with the Pakistan Cricket Board deciding a major shake-up has become necessary.

Pakistan failed to progress through the group stages of the World Cup in South Africa with a six-wicket defeat against arch-rivals India proving particularly devastating.

They did not beat any fellow Test-playing nations and have earned no sympathy at home, particularly in the wake of the India defeat with Waqar, in the frontline as skipper, coming under fire from the cricket-crazed public.

The team's performance has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board to axe Waqar and national team coach Richard Pybus, whose replacement, Javed Miandad, was also confirmed in his post on Wednesday.

Latif returned to the squad for the World Cup after a while out of the team battling injury.

The 34-year-old's selection appears to be a stop-gap measure and Pybus was disappointed to hear of Waqar's dismissal.

Waqar too is amazed at the PCB's regime change.

"I feel it is not the way to rebuild things," he said.

And he fears many players will have played their final international matches, being made scapegoats for the World Cup disaster.

"The axing of all top cricketers will not prove fruitful for the future of Pakistan cricket," said Waqar, who insisted he still has plenty to offer as a player.

"I feel I am still fit to play for Pakistan," he said.

"I think my performance over the last couple of years has been good if not excellent.

"I have finished second best (in terms of wickets), if not the leading wicket-taker."

With Wasim Akram retired from Test cricket, Waqar and Shoaib Akhtar provided the pace for Pakistan at the World Cup and Latif's task will be to make sure they are backed up with some solid batting.

Latif told PA International: "It is a big challenge for me at this crucial time when we were beaten shamefully in World Cup matches with a star-studded team.

"I have taken this task in the best interests of the nation.

"Lots of things have to be done and we have to face big challenges to rebuild Pakistan cricket.

"I have put my retirement plans back in the best interests of cricket."

Latif is expected to give up the role before the end of the year, allowing the PCB several months to select a long-term skipper.

"I am only focusing on the Sharjah event and things will become more clear in a few days' time," he added.

Latif hinted that a number of big-name players would not play in Sharjah next month when Pakistan face Sri Lanka and South Africa in a triangular tournament.

"We have been playing with all the best stars available for the last year but haven't been able to grab the victories," he added.

"So now it is the time to get a few new stars from the young talent available which was overshadowed by the senior players.

"I have a lot of respect for Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and I'll never forget the spells of those stars from behind the stumps.

"I do not know what team I will get for this upcoming tournament, but I promise to get the most out of these young guns available to me."

Pybus never made such bold moves to promote youth en masse, but acknowledged there needed to be a change in the attitude of many players if Pakistan are to re-emerge as a force.

He told the BBC Sport website: "I was extremely disappointed when I heard Waqar Younis had been sacked as Pakistan captain.

"Most people will have no idea about the pressures he has been under over the last year.

"Pakistan's poor performance during the World Cup had little to do with the captain.

"In my six months with the side I was deeply disappointed at how uncommitted some players were.

"On paper they were probably the most talented squad at the World Cup.

"But there was a general lack of desire to go out and fight, and I doubt if there is anything Waqar could have done to change that."

Although disappointed at the sacking of his former right-hand man, Pybus, whose contract was not extended after the World Cup, offered his support to Latif.

"He has done the job before and is a safe pair of hands to take over at this very difficult time for Pakistani cricket."