Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has expressed his frustration over the national team’s disappointing performance against India, calling for the removal of several senior players.
Speaking on a private sports show, the legendary fast bowler stated that Pakistan has been struggling in white-ball cricket for years with the same set of players. He emphasised that it is time to bring in fresh talent, even if it means losing matches for the next six months while preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Akram insisted that five to six key players must be replaced in the squad. He pointed out that the current players have been given enough opportunities, but their consistent failures demand immediate action.
Criticising the bowlers’ poor performance, he revealed that they managed to take only 24 wickets in five matches, with an average of 60 per wicket, which he deemed unacceptable.
The cricket legend urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman to hold an urgent meeting with the selection committee, captain, and coach upon his return. He questioned the team selection strategy, expressing disbelief that players like Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah were expected to dismiss world-class batters like Virat Kohli.
He also recalled that during the announcement of the Champions Trophy squad, concerns were raised about the team’s composition. Despite the PCB chairman himself suggesting changes, the selection committee failed to take action.
Akram did not hold back from criticising Muhammad Rizwan, stating that a captain must be aware of his team’s strengths and weaknesses.
He concluded by saying that the current situation is unacceptable, and Pakistan cricket needs a major transformation to compete at the highest level.
