The great Wasim Akram was once part of a Pakistan cricket setup that struck fear into the hearts of their opponents. The team’s rich history included significant victories, such as winning the World Cup in 1992 and reaching the final of the 1999 edition. However, the Pakistan cricket team, captained by Babar Azam, has fallen from grace.
Once a formidable force in international cricket, Pakistan has seen a stark decline in recent years. The team that consistently challenged top cricketing nations is now struggling to find footing. The team’s recent performance in the World Cup in India raises concerns about the team’s future.
Pakistan’s bowling legacy is celebrated worldwide. However, the team’s bowling unit has been disappointingly toothless in recent matches. The absence of critical bowlers like Naseem Shah has left a void, and even the presence of talents like Shaheen Afridi hasn’t compensated for this deficiency. Haris Rauf, another promising bowler, has been inconsistent and leaking runs, contributing to the team’s woes.
Fielding is an integral aspect of modern cricket, and a team’s performance can be a game-changer. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s fielding in recent matches has been far from impressive. Their fielding mishaps have become ridiculed, with dropped catches, misfields, and fumbles undermining their efforts.
Wasim Akram emphasizes that players’ fielding prowess is directly linked to their fitness levels. He argues that the team must scrutinize their fitness regimes. Players’ faces drop when subjected to fitness tests, and Akram believes that the lack of physical conditioning is a significant issue.
“It was embarrassing today. To reach 280-odd, losing just two wickets is pretty big. Whether pitch or not, look at the fielding fitness levels. We’ve been screaming for the last 3 weeks that these players haven’t undergone a fitness test in the last two years. If I start taking individual names, their faces will drop. Looks like these guys are eating 8 kilos of mutton every day. Should there not be tests,” a visibly frustrated Akram said on A Sports.
Wasim Akram does not mince words when expressing his disappointment with the team’s performance. He points out the embarrassing aspect of the game, highlighting how the opposition reached a competitive total while losing only two wickets. He calls for fitness tests and a specific criterion for players, similar to the approach employed during Misbah-ul-Haq’s tenure as coach.
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Wasim added, “Professionally, you guys are getting paid, playing for your country. There has to be a certain criteria. Misbah, when he was coach, had that criteria. Players hated him, but it worked. Fielding is all about fitness, and that’s where we are lacking. Now we have reached that position where we will pray for ifs and buts to happen.”
As Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup hang in the balance, they face an uphill battle. After five matches, the team is placed fifth on the points table with 4 points. To secure a spot in the knockout stage, they need to win their remaining four league games and rely on the outcomes of other teams. It’s a challenging road ahead.
