Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has been scathing in his criticism of the Pakistan team’s performance at the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE where the team has lost two games to arch-rivals India already. At one point after Pakistan’s recent defeat to India in the Super 4 stage, Akhtar said on Pakistan TV: “The Pakistan coach (Mike Hesson) should be asked the questions – where are his brains? It is just senseless coaching and senseless selection of the team. It is beyond me – it feels like I am the one who is a fraud, who doesn’t understand a thing after playing 15 years of cricket.”
During the same show, the pace legend, who is fondly known as the Rawalpindi Express, was asked if he would take the responsibility of fixing the Pakistan cricket team if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asked him.
Akhtar, while expressing his reservations about being asked in the first place by the Pakistan board, said he would have to consider how much time he could dedicate to the job considering he has young kids.
But he did offer a few solutions to mend Pakistan cricket.
“First of all, PCB will never ask me to do this job. The reason is that I’m going to do the right thing, whatever is necessary. I’m not saying give me the power. I believe in teamwork. I believe in logic. I believe in working together. It’s not about ‘give me the power and I’ll fix it.’ No, no, no, it’s not like that. I would rather have a 20-member selection committee. I will take their advice: ‘What do you guys say? Tell me.’” Akhtar said.
WATCH: Shoaib Akhtar on how he would fix Pakistan cricket
Akhtar drew up a comparison between India’s Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a 39-ball 74 against Pakistan in the Super 4 game, with Saim Ayub, who scored 21 runs off 17 balls against India in the same game. The former Pakistan pacer said that Ayub had looked “scared” of failing on the big stage, even though he plays really well in the local Pakistan Super League (PSL).
“To fix Pakistan cricket, if I am given three years and handed the command, the children (players) must be given confidence. ‘Saim (Ayub), son, go play. Abhishek (Sharma) has a license, you also play. No problem, you won’t get dropped if you get out. Saim beta, the whole year is for you.’ I’ll see how performance doesn’t come. He (Saim Ayub) is scared, poor boy,” Akhtar said before adding: “In a PSL game, it’s fine, runs happen. But you have to hit in a pressure game. Abhishek has a license, so he’s hitting it.”
The post20-man selection committee, one-year-long rope to players: Shoaib Akhtar on how he would fix Pakistan cricket as PCB chief | Cricket News appeared first on Indian Express
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