Wasim Akram wants players ‘who don’t want to talk to each other’ out of PCT

Former captain calls for a significant overhaul of the team

KARACHI:

Former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram demanded the removal of poor-performing players from the team following Pakistan’s defeat by India in the T20 World Cup.

Taking a dig at Pakistan Cricket Team (PCT) Akram said: “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.”

The former Test captain also criticised the team's inability to chase down a modest target of 120 given by India, leading to their second consecutive defeat in the tournament.

He called for a significant overhaul of the team, singling out Rizwan for attempting an ill-advised big shot against Bumrah, resulting in a crucial dismissal.

He remarked that despite years of experience, players like Rizwan lacked game awareness. He emphasised that Rizwan should have recognized Bumrah's role in taking wickets and played his deliveries more cautiously.

In Akram's view, Pakistani players seemed complacent, assuming that underperforming would lead to coaches being sacked while they remained unaffected. He called for retaining the coaches but advocated for a complete overhaul of the team.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also indicated that the national team will undergo major changes.

"It seemed initially that a minor surgery would suffice, but following the extremely poor performance against India, it is clear that a major surgery is necessary," Naqvi remarked while speaking to the journalists after the match.

Naqvi highlighted the current low point in Pakistani cricket. "Our performance is at its lowest. Improving the team's performance is our biggest challenge," he noted.

He hinted that the nation will soon witness substantial changes within the team. "We need to prepare the team for the Champions Trophy, and it is time to give new talent sitting on the sidelines a chance," Naqvi stated.