Legendary pacer Wasim Akram has openly questioned the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and its failure to develop top-tier batting talent over the last decade.
Akram expressed deep disappointment that the PSL has not produced a single standout batter capable of matching the caliber of India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
He noted that while the league has successfully unearthed a steady stream of fast bowlers and all-rounders, it has completely dried up when it comes to churning out specialized, high-quality batters.
“It has been 10 years since the PSL started, but has a single batter been produced by the PSL? Yes we have produced a few bowlers but tell me have we produced any noteworthy batting talent. I think when we produce a batting talent like the 14-year old (Sooryavanshi, 15) then we will see improvement coming through," said Akram while speaking to reporters.
Wasim Akram pointed out a glaring technical flaw in the Pakistani batters, criticizing them for remaining "rooted in the crease" and refusing to commit their front foot forward when facing England seamer Ollie Robinson in the ongoing Test series.
“In England in the ongoing series they didn’t move their front foot forward, playing bowlers like Ollie Robinson while standing rooted in the crease. You need to play with courage, but for that, talent is essential," he added.
Rather than relying solely on franchise T20 cricket, Akram emphasized that Pakistan must urgently invest in its grassroots development, club cricket, and domestic first-class structure if the national team wants to recover its competitive edge globally.
“Club cricket needs to be revived if we want improvement in red ball cricket. The PCB should spend 100 million rupees each in Karachi and Lahore, as talent comes from club cricket," he remarked.
Speaking of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam’s men are on the verge of a humiliating clean sweep in the ongoing England Test tour. Having already lost the first two matches at Headingley and Lord’s, the visitors are staring at yet another defeat in the third and final Test in Birmingham.
After the series-conceding loss at Lord’s, the PCB sent seven players home, including senior names like Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. The board also relieved head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul of their duties.
