Aamer Sohail, Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning opener, has alleged that bowling legend Wasim Akram made sure that Pakistan didn’t win 1996, 1999 and 2003 World Cups thanks to his captaincy drama before each of the events.
“It’s very simple. Put the 1992 World Cup to one side and talk about the 1996 World Cup. In 1995 Ramiz Raja was captain. Saleem Malik was the captain before that, he was very successful, and if he could have spent one more year as captain then Wasim Akram would not have been leading the side,” Sohail said in a recent television interview, according to Cricket Pakistan.
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Wasim Akram captained Pakistan to the finals of the 1999 World Cup, losing to Australia. In 1996, he captained the Green Army to the quarter-finals but didn’t play in the match due to an injury and Aamer Sohail led in his stead. India defeated Pakistan easily in Bengaluru and knocked them out. In 2003 World Cup, Waqar Younis was made captain despite Akram vying for the place.
“If you look at what happened till 2003, there was this persistence before every World Cup to remove the captain and put Wasim Akram in that role,” he claimed.
“Look, the biggest contribution by Wasim Akram for Pakistan cricket was making sure Pakistan does not win a World Cup after 1992,” Sohail said further.
Wasim Akram picked three wickets in the finals of the 1992 World Cup against England and was named Man of the Match as well, as Imran Khan’s team won the World Cup for the first and only time.
Sohail, who was part of the winning team, said, “Imran Khan should be very grateful to him, and he is by awarding him the presidential award. If he (Akram) was sincere with Pakistan, we would have easily won 1996, 1999 and 2003 World Cups. All of this drama happened for a reason. This should be investigated. The culprit behind all this should be brought to the forefront.”
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Incidentally, Sohail had previously accused Akram of match-fixing in 1997, said “All of this drama happened for a reason. This should be investigated. The culprit behind all this should be brought to the forefront.”
Sohail had also accused the current Pakistani team of match-fixing during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, which they won. He had said, “Pakistan was forced to win the games by someone. We all know what happens and whatnot, and I can’t tell you how they have won the games, I can’t name them.”
(Cricket Pakistan inputs)
