Published: Apr 01, 2016, 02:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 01, 2016, 02:23 PM (IST)
Former Pakistan captain and all rounder seems to be very upset by his country’s early exit in the T20 World Cup 2016. He questions PCB’s (Pakistan Cricket Board) commitment towards Pakistan’s cricketing future. Pakistan had a bad run in the world cup pulling off only one win against Bangladesh by 55 run margin in their first match. They failed miserably against India unable to break the jinx and followed the same fate against Australia and New Zealand. Wasim Akram saw it coming seeing their performance in the recent years heading nowhere but yet another failure at World Stage. He blames Pakistan’s domestic structure for the inability to perform in the World Cup. “Whatever happened in this T20 World Cup for Pakistan it was writing on the wall,” Akram told cricket.com.au. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies , Live Score, 2nd Semi-Final match, ICC T20 World Cup 2016
“They didn’t see it four years ago (when Pakistan made the semi-finals in Sri Lanka) but it was meant to happen. Our first-class structure is down the drain, nobody puts money in there, nobody’s bothering. And they want to win World Cups – you can’t win World Cups like this, I’m sorry. It’s a tournament. A team prepares itself for three to four years; they plan, they prepare, they pick the right combination. But we just go by our instinct and go ‘OK, there’s a World Cup next month, hopefully we’ll win’. That’s what we do in Pakistan.” He is deeply saddened about where Pakistan’s future is headed “You go to a World Cup and I’m a commentator and I’m a Pakistani and want Pakistan team to do well,” he said. ALSO READ: MS Dhoni banter with journalist: Who am I to turn down India’s greatest-ever captain? says Sam Ferris
“Winning (the World T20) would be the icing on the cake, but at least qualify for the semis. Of course it hurts. Big time. “Not just to me but every Pakistani. It doesn’t matter if you’re living in Pakistan or living abroad, it hurts.” On being asked about suggestions to improve Pakistan’s performance, he replied “First of all I would put people who have passion, who want to do well for the country and who can keep a secret a secret. That’s the start,” the Pakistani legend added “The Pakistan coach … supposedly has given a confidential report (to the PCB) on the state of Pakistan, on the state of affairs and cricketers … (but) it was out (in the public) the next day. “If the top level have a mentality like this, leaking news like this, imagine what the players go through. “You can’t have people in cricket boards who will leak confidential reports in the matter of a day, maybe three hours. “That shows the trust nobody has. Not everyone on the (PCB) but certain people I don’t think want Pakistan cricket to do well.”
He dismissed any possibility of him joining the PCB saying “I’m fine where I am in life,”. “Unless the mindset of the cricket board changes, one person – chairman or coach or captain – you can change them, fine, but they’re not going to make a difference. Our mindset and cricket is 10 years behind world cricket. That’s what it is.”Pakistan Super League was able to grab a decent amount of eyeballs in its first edition and was declared as a success according to PCB Chairman.
Wasim believes that the league can produce some quality players in long run but wouldn’t be able to meet short term needs.not translate into performances on the field in the short term. “The PSL will give you players after three, four years,” he said. “People were expecting that after PSL shake-up everybody will be fine. No it won’t. Our coaching is also 10 years behind. Our fielding levels are 10 years behind world cricket. That is why we are where we are.” The last game played on Pakistan’s territory was in last summer of May since the Lahore attacks on Sri Lanka team. Since then UAE has been the homeground for Pakistan. Wasim Akram expresses deep concern over cricket not played on Pakistan’s soil. “When I played, I could see my heroes playing in front of me. Now these boys, youngsters, can only see them on television,” he said. “That’s a big, big tragedy for Pakistan cricket and to Pakistan. My hope is it comes to Pakistan at some stage, but let’s see.”
