Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain, and fast bowling legend has opened up on why he hasn’t or doesn’t want to coach the national cricket team.
Wasim Akram, who won the 1992 World Cup as a player and captained the team to the final of the 1999 ICC World Cup, has coached in franchise T20 leagues. He was part of the support staff of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders and has also been associated with several Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises over the past years.
Wasim Akram Doesn’t Think He Can Manage Work Away From Pakistan
In a recent interaction, Wasim Akram was asked why he has never coached the national team Pakistan, to which Wasim Akram said that he will not be able to give the time that a full-time coaching job demands.
“When you become the coach, you need to give at least 200 to 250 days a year to the team and that’s a lot of work. I don’t think I can manage so much work away from Pakistan, from my family. And as it is, I spend time with most of the players in the PSL, they all have my number and they keep asking for advice,” Akram said in the interview.
After calling it quits from cricket in 2003, the legendary cricketer had taken up a commentary stint. After that, he was involved in a coaching capacity and was part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a bowling coach for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Later he was also seen in the role of mentoring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Wasim Akram Can’t Tolerate Anyone Misbehaving With Him
Wasim Akram also cited misbehaviour by fans as a reason for him to not think about coaching the national team.
“I am not a fool. I keep on hearing and seeing on social media how people misbehave with their coaches and seniors. The coach isn’t the one playing. The players are the one playing. The coach can only help with the planning. So, if the team loses, I don’t think the coach is as responsible or accountable as we hold him as a nation.”
“So, I’m afraid of that as well, because I can’t tolerate anyone misbehaving with me. And we are becoming like that. I love the people, their enthusiasm and passion for the game, but not the misbehavior that is shown on social media. It shows what we are. I have never seen this happen in other countries.” Wasim Akram added.
Misbah-ul-Haq stepped down as head coach of the Pakistan team last month along with Waqar Younis, who too resigned from the position of bowling coach. Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq are the interim coaches in charge of the team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq both had a year still left in their tenures, having taken charge in September 2019. Later, pacer Mohammad Amir came out of retirement following the coaches’ resignment as he had differences with the duo. Newly-elected PCB chairman Ramiz Raja recently announced Vernon Philander and Matthew Hayden’s appointments as coaching consultants for the T20 World Cup.
The leading runs getter for Pakistan in Test cricket Younis Khan parted way with the Pakistan team as the batting coach earlier this year. The former batsman resigned from the top job on June 22 even though he was roped in by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a two-year contract, which would’ve come to a conclusion after the T20 World Cup.