Akram also revealed that PCB dropping him from the team after 2003 World Cup made it easier for him to retire.
The legend who has 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets to his name, mentioned that it all came down to the First-Class cricket structure of both nations. Pakistan cricket has been muddled in controversies, lack of performances, and most of all quality players. While their rivals India have gone from strength to strength, Pakistan, as many believe, has taken one step forward and two steps backward.
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“Whoever came to the cricket board, he came with a short-term goal. There was no fixing of the First-Class structure. What’s been going on for the last 30 years, they did nothing different from it. So that is the reason. There’s plenty of talent in Pakistan. The FC structure has now finally changed but you still need 3-4 years for it to show results,” Akram told Aakash Chopra during a chat on YouTube.
Akram, whose international career spanned from 1984-2003, played 104 Tests and 356 ODI games for Pakistan and was part of the 1992 World Cup-winning team under the leadership of Imran Khan. Wasim himself led Pakistan for a long time and captained the team in 1996 and 1999 World Cups.
However, Wasim shared the moment and the person responsible for making him realize it was time to say goodbye to the world of active cricket.
“It’s a tough decision alright, no doubt. For any top player to retire from sports is always tough. But everything has a time limit. In my case, PCB made the decision very easy for me since they dropped me. Every day was a pain going to the game,” Wasim said.
“I wasn’t enjoying it and I thought that’s a sign. I spoke to my late wife, who was in Pakistan back then. She told me, ‘Wasim, if your heart is not there and if you’re cursing each day, it means it’s time.’ And I knew it was time to go,” Wasim signed off.