Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, who was part of a panel appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board to help shortlist candidates for a new head coach after Waqar Younis resigned from the post following Pakistan’s dismal performance in World T20, has criticised former Pakistan players.
The former players’ refusal to apply for the Pakistan head coach role through the panel has made Akram angry.
While the retired bowler did not mention any name but it was clear that his comments were for Mohsin Khan and Aaqib Javed when he made his comments to Geo News.
Former Pakistan batsman Mohsin Khan reportedly said he was not willing to be interviewed by a panel containing Akram and Ramiz Raja as they are his “juniors” and that he would send his application directly to the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan.
Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan fast bowler, and ex-UAE coach, reportedly said he would not apply since he felt the panel was set on hiring a foreign coach.
“What sort of attitude and mindset is this?” Akram said. “One former player said I will apply and talk directly to the chairman. When you have such a mindset how can one expect them to work well with the Pakistan team?”
Former South Africa and Australia coach Mickey Arthur was eventually appointed as Pakistan’s coach.Talking about him, Akram said that the new coach will take some time to improve Pakistan’s fortunes on the cricket field.
“One should not expect him [Arthur] to bring about improvement immediately as our team is currently languishing at ninth position in the ODI rankings,” Akram said. “Even he will require time to turn things around.”
Pakistan will be playing in England in July. The tour will include four Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I. Akram said that he is expecting a tough tour, particularly for the batsmen.
“Don’t expect them [England] to prepare flat pitches for our batsmen. The Duke ball will seam and swing on grassy pitches and it will be a real test for our batsmen to negotiate the ball.”
Akram also said that he is not impressed with the decision of the new selection panel, chaired by Inzamam-ul-Haq, to drop Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal from the training camp for the England tour probables on disciplinary grounds.
“If we drop players on purely disciplinary grounds then let me tell you many of our era would not have even played for Pakistan including myself,” Akram said. “I think if a player has a problem it is the job of the team management and captain to deal with it and get him to perform.”