CRITICISM has been swift and unforgiving as legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram weighed in on the current state of Pakistan cricket, pulling no punches regarding the national team’s disastrous showing against England. With Pakistan trailing 0-2 in the three-match Test series, the former skipper revealed that the writing was on the wall long before the first ball was bowled in the opening encounter.
Speaking candidly to The Athletic, Akram admitted that his expectations for the series were bleak from the outset. “I knew before the series we were going to lose 3-0 to England,” the ‘Sultan of Swing’ stated. “Our batting is struggling, our bowling is below average, and our fielding is worse. It’s not rocket science.”
For a man who anchored the Pakistan side to three consecutive Test series victories in England during the 1987 and 1996 campaigns—captaining the side during the latter—these performances represent a painful decline. The current squad has looked disjointed and physically outclassed, unable to counter England’s aggressive tactical approach.
The PCB Shake-up: A Desperate Measure?
The fallout from Pakistan’s dismal run has been swift, characterized by radical, arguably desperate, interventions from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Following the second Test defeat, the board executed a massive restructuring, sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his entire support staff. Furthermore, seven players were abruptly released from the squad and sent home, a move that sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity.
Akram expressed a degree of empathy for the individuals caught in the firing line, yet he refused to ignore the fundamental apathy within the ranks. “I feel for the players, but in Pakistan, we have a saying: ‘You can only clap with two hands,'” he remarked.
According to Akram, the issues plaguing Pakistan cricket are far more systemic than a simple coaching change. The legendary left-armer pointed to the instability of the domestic first-class structure as a primary catalyst for the decline. “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.”
This lack of institutional stability, Akram argues, has created a “scorched earth” mentality among the fan base. “That dribbles down to the fans, too. They see the team lose and they want to rip it all up. We’ve done that so many times and now there is nothing really left.”
Deep Concerns for Imran Khan
Beyond the boundary ropes, Akram took the opportunity to address a deeply personal matter: the deteriorating situation of his former mentor and captain, Imran Khan. Having not spoken to the 1992 World Cup-winning leader for three years, Akram expressed significant anxiety regarding Khan’s health and the conditions surrounding his imprisonment.
“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 asserted.
While there is a growing international movement seeking clarity on Khan’s welfare, Akram remains skeptical about the transparency of the current domestic narrative. “There’s a movement in England and elsewhere to improve Imran’s conditions, but here in Pakistan? I’m not so sure.”
Akram’s tone shifted from the analytical to the profoundly emotional as he spoke about his former captain. “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 is saying his health is apparently fine. But I’m worried. I miss him a lot.”
Looking Ahead to the Third Test
As the caravan heads to the third and final Test starting Wednesday, the mood surrounding the Pakistan camp is one of uncertainty and heavy scrutiny. With the series already decided, the pressure is on the remaining players to salvage a shred of dignity.
However, if Akram’s assessment is correct, the problems facing the team are not merely technical or personnel-related; they are existential. Without a wholesale commitment to building a domestic structure that values patience, consistency, and a professional developmental pathway, Pakistan risks continuing this downward spiral.
For now, the cricketing world watches on, wondering if the recent “purge” by the PCB will act as a reset or simply another chapter in a long, storied history of volatility. Wasim Akram’s message is clear: the house needs more than a fresh coat of paint; it needs a new foundation. Until then, the struggles witnessed in England may well be the new normal for a nation still searching for its lost identity.
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