Think about Wasim Akram for a moment. He was a champion player of his time, a bona fide legend. The Pakistan cricket team he once built is now crumbling before his eyes. With every loss, Pakistan’s standing in world cricket takes a hit. They have become the team everyone wants to target. They have lost before and will continue to lose… just like any other team. But chaotic team selection, player qualifications and internal politics within the Pakistan Cricket Board are destroying the team from within like termites.
The same can be seen in Pakistan’s performance on the field. After the biggest shock defeat in the history of the T20 World Cup against the USA, Pakistan failed in their batting to get 120 against India. This was Pakistan’s best chance to break through. There were no devils on the court and the sun was shining. This was purely down to poor match awareness and Pakistan, with players with over 100 matches under their belts, couldn’t even do that.
But enough is enough, says Akram. The former Pakistan captain is calling for radical reforms after the T20 World Cup. Incensed by the current Pakistan team’s performance and off-field antics, Akram has urged the PCB to bring in new players and build the team around them, regardless of the results.
“Enough is enough. We need a change now. Let’s bring in six to seven players into the new team and support them so that even if we lose, we grow as a team. It’s time for the PCB chairman to take a bold step,” he said. [of the team] “This person not talking to that person, that person not talking to him. This is the best pitch in New York so far. It wasn’t that difficult. How hard was it to hit 120? After this performance, I don’t think Pakistan deserve to qualify for the Super 8s,” Akram said in a video posted on his Twitter account.
After the six-run loss to India, a new narrative seems to have taken hold. Javeria Khan posted that India didn’t beat Pakistan, Pakistan shot themselves in the foot. Akram agrees. Pakistan, who staged a spectacular comeback by picking up seven wickets to beat 30 runs, suffered the same collapse. Every time India tried to take a wicket, Pakistan lost one and their chase failed.
Wasim Akram goes on a rant
Akram was embarrassed by his current team’s struggles, termed it a sad day for Pakistan cricket and was relentless in criticising the players, their culture and their utter incompetence.
“The Pakistan team does not need an opponent. They are enough on their own. Should I hand-teach them everything? Should I tell them what is going on? Will Babar do it or will the coach do it? These players have been playing for the last eight to 10 years. Should I tell them? [Mohammad] Rizwan is their main bowler. [Jasprit Bumrah] “I came back to pick up wickets so I’m taking singles? I finished 10 overs and barely hit a boundary. I didn’t even try.”
“I am feeling embarrassed now. As a Pakistani, I want to support the Pakistan team. But there is a limit to everything. Unfortunately, it was a very sad day for Pakistan cricket. I can’t even talk now. Of course you are all frustrated. I am really depressed. I am normally a positive person but to lose like this? It may be a bitter pill to swallow but there is no way,” Akram concluded in the Twitter video.
