‘We have to tell the nation the truth’: Wasim Akram on Pakistan cricket failures

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LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has called for an honest assessment of the country’s cricketing problems.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, the former fast bowler said he had been closely observing Pakistan cricket for the past five to six years and had also worked with the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“We have to tell the nation the truth because people have huge expectations from this team,” Akram said.

Referring to Pakistan’s recent performances against Bangladesh, he said the team had lost both home and away series. “The warning signs were already there, but no work was done to address them,” he said.

Akram said changing coaches alone would not solve Pakistan’s problems. “Whoever comes in as coach even the best coach, whether it is me or Gary Kirsten—the talent available to you remains the same,” he said.

The former captain questioned Pakistan’s ability to produce quality batting talent through the PSL, which has now completed 10 years.

“If we had the kind of talent that our neighbouring country has produced—for example, a 14-year-old coming through—everyone would have noticed him here as well,” he said. “The PSL has been around for 10 years. Has it produced a batter of that level? Bowlers have certainly emerged.”

Akram urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give its revamped domestic cricket system at least three to four years to produce results.

“Other than patience and planning, there is no magic plan,” he said.

He added that he was equally disappointed when Pakistan performed poorly. “Just as every Pakistani feels sad after watching the team’s performances, I feel the same way,” Akram said.

The former captain said Pakistan’s white-ball side was in relatively good shape but expressed concern over the red-ball team.

“The white-ball team is fine, but red-ball cricket is where we struggle,” he said. He called for the revival of club cricket and suggested that the PCB invest Rs100 million each in Karachi and Lahore to strengthen the grassroots system.

“Talent has to come through club cricket,” he said.

Akram also stressed the need for greater consistency in team selection and improvement in players’ technique.

“There has to be continuity in the team, but the same players keep coming and going,” he said. “Their front foot does not come forward. They are playing bowlers like Robinson while standing in the crease. You have to play strongly and positively, but for that you need talent.”

Discussing Pakistan’s young fast bowlers, Akram said bowling one delivery at 150 kilometres per hour was not a major achievement.

“Bowling at 140 kilometres per hour throughout the day is the real achievement,” he said, urging fans and selectors not to rush to judgment about young pacers.

“Don’t get overly excited after seeing these young fast bowlers. Let them play, and then we can form an opinion,” he added.

Akram described Shaheen Shah Afridi as an experienced bowler and said he was unsure why the pacer’s speed had dropped.

“In England, you need an experienced bowler like him,” he said.

He also criticised Pakistan’s pace-bowling combination in England, saying the team lacked variety.

“You sent fast bowlers with almost the same pace to England. At least one or two should have been genuinely quick,” he said. “If I were there, I would have asked for Aaqib Javed because he bowled well in England recently.”

Akram recalled that Pakistan had historically succeeded in similar conditions because its bowling attack offered variety.

“We also played in these kinds of conditions, but we had variety. Our bowlers were not all the same,” he said.