PHOTO: AFP
Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast-bowler Wasim Akram fears for the future of Pakistan cricket after a dismal show in the ongoing World T20, where Shahid Afridi’s men crashed out of the first round after managing to win only one of four matches.
While talking to cricket.com.au, the 49-year-old said the poor performance from the Men in Green at the mega event could have been foretold. "Whatever happened in this T20 World Cup for Pakistan it was writing on the wall.
Afridi begs nation for forgiveness after poor World T20 performance
"They didn't see it four years ago [when Pakistan made the semi-finals in Sri Lanka] but it was meant to happen.”
The hero of the 1992 World Cup final said Pakistan's cricket infrastructure is not good enough to win events, such as the World Cup. “Our first-class structure is down the drain, nobody puts money in there, nobody's bothering,” said Akram. "And they want to win World Cups – you can't win World Cups like this, I'm sorry.”
Afridi’s attitude was non-serious during Asia Cup and World T20: Waqar
The man, who represented the Men in Green in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs, also criticised the lack of planning from the team management while preparing for the mega event. “Of course it hurts [when Pakistan lose]. Big time,” he said. “Not just to me, but every Pakistani is hurt. It doesn't matter if you're living in Pakistan or living abroad, it hurts.
“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. It's a tournament. A team prepares itself for three to four years; they plan, they prepare, they pick the right combination.”
Furious Waqar blasts PCB for leaking confidential report
The 1992 World Cup winner also criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for leaking coach Waqar Younis’s confidential report. "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.
“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.
"If the top level have a mentality like this, leaking news like this, imagine what the players go through,” he added.
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