Wasim Akram lashes out at senior Pakistani cricketers after Pakistan faces a bitter loss at the hands of India in the ongoing T20 World Cup. This defeat has pushed Pakistan on the brink of exit.
India stunned Pakistan by defending a meagre total of 119. Pakistan had won the toss and sent India to bat. India was bundled out for just 119 in 19 overs. In the second innings, India showed a fierce bowling attack in return led by Jasprit Bumrah. And India was successful in defending the lowest total ever while restricting the opponent to 113.
Pakistan’s senior players have shown disapproval and disappointment with team’s performance and conduct.
Highlighting the strained relationship among teammates, Wasim Akram emphasized the need of consciousness of playing an International game. Talking about Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, among whom the captaincy shift has been a point of contention, Akram hinted out,
“There are players who don’t want to talk to each other. This is international cricket, and you play for your country. Make these players sit at home.”
Speaking to Star Support, Wasim Akram showed disappointment with Muhammad Rizwan’s lack of game awareness,
“They have been playing cricket for 10 years, and I can’t teach them. Rizwan has no game awareness.”
He further pointed out, “He should have known that Bumrah was given the ball to take wickets and that the wise thing would have been to play his deliveries cautiously. But Rizwan went for a big shot and lost his wicket.”
Though experienced players were playing in the pivotal clash, Wasim felt disheartened with Iftikhar and Fakhar Zaman who have not upskilled themselves over time,
“Iftikhar Ahmed knows one shot on the leg side. He has been a part of the team for years but doesn’t know how to bat.”
Blatantly he claimed, its time to change the entire Pakistan team,
“I can’t go and tell about the game awareness Fakhar Zaman. Pakistani players think that if they don’t perform well, the coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them. It is time to keep the coaches and change the entire team.”
Shahid Afridi’s View About Pakistan Team
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ambassador, Shahid Afridi has also showed concerns about the atmosphere within the Pakistan Cricket team,
“A captain brings everyone together, either he spoils the team environment or he builds the team. Let this World Cup finish, and I will speak openly.”
Pakistan has faced criticism from the opening match they lost to USA in Twenty20 World Cup and the recent defeat against India has put the team in spotlight again.
Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
