A can of worms has been opened up following Pakistan’s near exit situation from the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy with former players gunning for the heads of the members of the team, head coach Dav Whatmore, selectors and board officials.
Pakistan now need a miracle of sorts to still qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy after their loss to West Indies and South Africa in their group matches, with the batting flopping badly on both occasions.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar minced no words in stating that the country’s cricket structure needed a complete overhaul.
“We shouldn’t be surprised by these results because we neither have quality batsmen nor bowlers and the reason for this is, we are not producing quality talents because of an inept and mismanaged cricket structure,” he said.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram also called for changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“Someone has to be answerable for this debacle. I would like to see changes in those who have been in Pakistan cricket and board for years now, but have done nothing. The board must bear the responsibility for this debacle,” he said.
Akram said that the Pakistani batsmen have wasted the good work of the bowlers by playing senseless and defensive cricket, which was hard to comprehend.
“Our batsmen played without a plan. There were no singles or twos at all. No rotation of strike. Things must change now in Pakistan cricket if we are to do well at the top level consistently,” said Akram.
Akram also criticised Whatmore for failing to influence the team.
Another former skipper Zaheer Abbas said that batting had remained a problem for Pakistan for a long time now and the board had done nothing to resolve it.
“The board now needs to act urgently and do something to resolve this problem. Long term measures are needed to resolve our batting woes,” he said.
Abbas said the way the batsmen played against the West Indies and South Africa, it was as if they were batting in a Test match.
