Legendary cricketer Wasim Akram has lashed out at Pakistan’s side following Sunday’s agonising loss to India in the T20 World Cup, calling for a mass overhaul of the squad.
Pakistan suffered a six-run loss to its arch rivals at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium after failing to reel in a modest 120-run target, equalling the record for lowest team score successfully defended at Men’s T20 World Cups.
Babar Azam’s men at one stage needed 48 runs from 48 deliveries with eight wickets in hands, but stamped on the brakes after Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah snared a couple of quick wickets.
Having also lost last week’s match against host nation the United States of America, Pakistan is now dependent on the results of other teams to qualify for the Super Eights stage of the tournament, which many deemed a formality for the 2022 finalists.
Don’t miss all the 4K action this weekend on Kayo including selected NRL, AFL, SSN games and every qualifying session and F1 race. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial today.
EVERY ball in USA’s EPIC super over win | 03:02
On Monday, Akram shared a video to his social media channels accusing Pakistan’s senior players of complacency.
“Pakistani players think that if they don’t perform well, coaches will be sacked, and nothing will happen to them,” Akram said.
“It is time to keep the coaches aside and change the entire team. There are players who don’t even talk to each other. This is international cricket, you play for your country. Make these players sit at home.”
“Enough is enough, we need changes now,” he continued.
“We need to bring in new players, six to seven of them. If we have to lose, we will lose with the new kids. We will back them and make a fighting team.
“After this performance, I don’t think Pakistan deserve to go into the Super Eights.”
Akram also took aim at Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 31 off 44 deliveries against India before he was bowled while attempting to slog Bumrah.
“He should’ve known that Bumrah was given the ball to take wickets and that the wise thing would’ve been to play his deliveries cautiously,” Akram explained.
“But Rizwan went for a big shot and lost his wicket.
“A captain and a coach cannot teach you what situational awareness is. Who you have to see off, who you have to attack. And you cannot be spoonfeeding everything.”
Pakistan, currently sixth on the ICC men’s T20 rankings, will next face Canada at the same venue on Wednesday morning, with the first ball scheduled for 12.30am AEST.
Victory against the Canadians would give Pakistan a glimmer of hope of keeping its campaign alive, but the nation’s T20 World Cup dream will be over if the USA defeats Ireland later this week.