NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said he knew before the ongoing Test series in England that Pakistan would lose 3-0. Pakistan have struggled to challenge England in the first two Tests and trail 0-2 going into the third and final Test, starting on Wednesday.“I knew before the series we were going to lose 3-0 to England,” Akram is quoted as saying by The Athletic. “Our batting is struggling, our bowling is below average and our fielding is worse. It’s not rocket science.”Akram was an important part of the Pakistan team that won three straight Test series in England in 1987 and 1996. He was also Pakistan’s captain in the last of those consecutive series wins.
Akram reacts to PCB’s major changes
Pakistan’s poor performances have attracted criticism, but the Pakistan Cricket Board’s major changes after the second Test have also shocked the cricket world.The PCB sent seven players from the squad back home and sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his staff after the second Test.Akram said he feels for the players, but believes their attitude is also part of the problem.“But in Pakistan we have a saying: ‘You can only clap with two hands’,” he said. “I get asked all the time, ‘Can you do something to help Pakistan cricket?’ But the issues are a lot deeper. These are the top players, there’s nothing else there. The systems aren’t there below that. The first-class structure domestically has been all over the place the last few years and there’s no consistency, no patience.“That dribbles down to the fans, too. They see the team lose and they want to rip it all up, too. We’ve done that so many times and now there is nothing really left,” said Akram.
‘There can be no compromise’ on Imran Khan’s health
Akram also spoke about his friend and former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and raised concerns about his health. Akram said he has not spoken to Imran for three years and expressed worry about what is happening to him.“I haven’t spoken to him for three years. It’s so unfortunate, politically, what’s happening with him. The court of law is the court of law. But as far as his health is concerned, there can be no compromise on that,” Akram said.“There’s a movement in England and elsewhere (to improve Imran’s conditions) but here (in Pakistan)? I’m not so sure,” said Akram.
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“I’m speaking from the heart as someone who is worried about him as a person. Convicted or not convicted. Jail or no jail. We need to safeguard his health. We don’t know what’s happening, the government are saying his health apparently is fine. But I’m worried. I miss him a lot.”
