Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has come down heavily on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the cricket team after their heartbreaking six-run defeat against arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup 2024 at New York on Sunday (June 9).
A day after the game, Akram uploaded a scathing video on social media platform X, asking the PCB to change the majority of the Pakistan team.
The 58-year-old argued that it was better to lose with 6-7 new players than to lose a match with experienced international cricketers, who did not show any game awareness at all.
Akram also aimed a dig at Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, stating that the T20 World Cup was not the time to dwell on their whole captaincy saga.
"It was a very very sad day for Pakistan cricket team. I keep saying that there is always win and loss in the game. But the way they lost the match, either me, or you have to tell the PCB what is going wrong. Why do we have to do this? Because enough is enough, we need changes now. We need to bring in new players, 6-7 of them. If we have to lose, we will lose with the new kids. We will back them and make a fighting team," Wasim Akram said in the clip.
"A captain and a coach cannot teach you what situational awareness is. Who you have to see off, who you have to attack. And you cannot be spoon-feeding everything," Akram slammed Mohammad Rizwan for throwing his wicket away against India’s strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah after getting set.
"I have a request for the chairman of PCB, take a bold step, forget about who is angry for not getting captaincy, you are working for the country, stop these things," he further remarked.
Coming to the match, India suffered a mid-innings collapse on a tricky two-paced pitch, resulting in a disappointing total of 119 all-out in 19 overs. Rishabh Pant top scored with 42 off 31 balls after being invited to bat under overcast conditions.
In reply, Pakistan were cruising at one stage, needing just 48 runs from as many balls with eight wickets in hand. However, the Indian pace battery, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3-14) and Hardik Pandya (2-24), staged a remarkable comeback and restricted Pakistan to 113/7 in 20 overs.
"It was the best New York pitch we have seen. Rizwan has batted for 10-12 overs and you try and sweep their best bowler - Bumrah? I want the PCB chairman to give us a break, because we cannot take this anymore. I am a really positive person but getting almost knocked out? I don't think we deserve to qualify for the Super 8 stage," Akram concluded.
This was Pakistan’s second successive defeat in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The Babar Azam-led side had lost to USA in the first match and their chances of reaching the Super 8 are now very slim.
Pakistan’s next match is scheduled against Canada in New York on Tuesday (June 11).
