FORMER Worcestershire and Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan believes Andrew Flintoff is the right man to lead England.

Flintoff is due to resume international duties in the second Test against Pakistan, which starts at Old Trafford on July 27.

Stand-in captain Andrew Strauss will relinquish leadership of the team on Flintoff's return after an ankle injury and Khan, who spent six years on the New Road playing staff, believes that cannot come too soon.

"Theoretically an all-rounder should make the best captain and that's why Andrew Flintoff should captain England -- he understands the batsman and bowler's point of view," said the former RGS Worcester pupil.

"The problem with batting captains is that they hardly understand the bowlers.

"I found most of the time they didn't know how to use the bowlers properly, but the main thing was how to use them in the field.

"Flintoff is the only genuine all-rounder -- in other worlds he can play in any team as a batsman or a bowler and make an impact."

England and Pakistan have both been hit by injuries ahead of their three-Test series but Khan does not feel this will detract from the battles which lie ahead.

"I think it will be a very interesting series -- of course it very much depends on who is fit," he added.

"What would make great cricket is if all the top players and match winners were available, sadly Pakistan won't have Shoaib Akhtar who, along with Brett Lee, are two of the great bowlers of today.

"But Pakistan can still make themselves into a great bowling attack, even with some key names missing, and if England can get their bowlers firing then it is all set up for a good series.

"One thing I would say is that Shahid Afridi has not been used properly by Pakistan -- they kept on making him open the batting.

"But now they have got him lower down the order and he can win a match with his bowling, batting and fielding."