'Beating Aus in ODI will be massive'

Former captain Wasim Akram praises Mohsin Naqvi for doing commendable work

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Wasim Akram has stated that conditions in Australia are always challenging, and the series won't be easy for Pakistan.

Winning even one ODI match here would be a significant achievement, although he believes the T20 series will be competitive.

In an online press conference from Melbourne, Akram also mentioned that positive signals are coming from India regarding the Champions Trophy.

He revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board has made several offers to the Indian board, and India should consider visiting Pakistan. He noted that Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav have a large fan base in Pakistan, and he believes that people from both countries should have more interaction.

He urged India to think about this prospect. Akram expressed his own sentiment, saying he hasn't visited India in 6–7 years and misses the food and people there. He believes Indian players would enjoy their time in Pakistan if they visited.

On Fakhar Zaman, Akram described him as an impact player and commented that he's confident Fakhar didn't write a recent controversial social media post himself. Whoever wrote it should have informed him that it could cause issues due to his central contract with the PCB. Akram called it a learning experience for Fakhar and advised players to think before posting online, adding that the PCB's reaction to the issue was justified.

Furthermore, Akram praised Mohsin Naqvi for doing commendable work for cricket in Pakistan. He revealed he received a job offer but declined, saying he's not suited for a 9-to-5 role.

Akram also defended the home advantage through pitch preparation, responding to critics by saying Pakistan doesn't need external critics when there's plenty of criticism from within. He explained that creating turning pitches, even if it leads to losses, is essential for the team's growth.

He expressed relief that Pakistan won two consecutive Test matches after losing three, showing the strategy's potential.

Looking ahead to the 2026 T20 World Cup, Akram appreciated the opportunity given to young players, urging Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and others to stay focused on the game. He advised players to avoid distractions like social media, enjoy their time off, and keep their attention on cricket, emphasizing that Babar Azam should focus on scoring runs and leave captaincy concerns aside.

Players to undergo camp

Six members of the Pakistan T20I squad for Australia series will undergo a camp at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from 2 to 6 November. The three-match T20I series between hosts Australia and Pakistan will take place from 14 to 18 November.

Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousaf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim and Usman Khan will take part in the camp and will assemble later on Friday evening.

Coach Saeed Bin Nasir will head the five-day camp where the players are scheduled to take part in training sessions.

At the conclusion of the camp, the players will disperse to their cities before departing to Australia on 10 November.

T20I squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan

Support staff for camp only: Saeed Bin Nasir (coach), Abdul Saad (coach), Imtiaz (physio) and Taimoor Mehmood (trainer).