Saddened by Pakistan’s pathetic show at the Champions Trophy, former captains Wasim Akram and Rameez Raja lashed out at side’s “spineless” batting and said the time has come for rebuilding the team on Sunday.

Pakistan lost all the three Group matches to crash out of the tournament.

“What has really concerned me is that we could not play out our full quota of overs in even one match. The batting generally has been spineless and shameful. This is not the way to play in a top tournament. I think it is time changes were made in the team and youngsters were given proper chances to establish themselves,” Akram said.

“For too long we have been relying on the same players who have failed us again and again,” the bowing great added.

Except skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, all others came in the firing line of Akram and Rameez. Misbah scored two half- centuries in Pakistans defeats to West Indies and South Africa when the team fell for under 200 runs.

“I don’t see any threat to his future. He was your only batsman to play the way other players should have played. I can say if Misbah had not scored runs on the tour this team the way it batted could have even been bowled out for totals of 30 or more,” Akram said.

The former great also lashed out at all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez who is being touted by a strong lobby as a possible replacement as captain for Misbah.

“I don’t think Misbah should be changed as captain.

Hafeez is just not mature enough or ready for this job. They call him professor and all that but first he must prove himself by being a match winner for Pakistan in the big matches, then consider him as future captain,” Akram said bluntly.

Raja also called for hard decisions. “I was appalled and sad by the way our batsmen performed.

For too long our bowlers have put their hands up and supported the batsmen. Unfortunately there is no balance between the two in our team and that is the major problem,” he said.

“We must learn from India. For the first time in my life I was sure this Indian team will beat us. I am sad by the indifferent and irresponsible attitude of some of the players. The time has come for changes and a new team to be rebuilt.”

Rameez also said that Pakistan’s entire cricket structure needed to be revamped with special focus on domestic cricket competitions.

“The unfortunate part is that we have focused only on quantity not quality in our domestic cricket and the result is no one takes it seriously neither is it producing the quality players we had in the past,” he said.

He said honest administrators were also required to revamp Pakistan cricket’s structure with hard and honest decisions in line.

Courtesy: CRICKET COUNTRY

Wasim Akram’s video message analysing the Pakistani bowlers performance and giving his suggestions on how to improve for the next match, exclusively for Gillette fans.

Pakistan’s former captain Wasim Akram has credited skipper Misbah-ul-Haq for bringing positive changes to the team.

Akram, who is in England to commentate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and is also helping the Pakistani bowlers with his tips, said that Misbah deserved praise for his change in attitude and approach to the game.
He also termed West Indies as the most dangerous side of the competition.

He expressed surprise that no one talked about the danger posed to all teams by brilliant players like Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and others in the West Indies team.

“They have brilliant wicket taking bowlers. They have more one-day experience. It will be very interesting to see how the West Indian side plays,” Akram told Geo News.
When asked if India will be under pressure due to the IPL spot-fixing scandal, Akram said that in such a situation players normally don’t admit that they are under pressure but it does have its affects.

Commenting on Pakistan team’s win over South Africa in the warm-up match on Monday, he said he was happy to see a collective effort. He said that Pakistan had struggled in South Africa during their recent tour due to different pitches and conditions.

“It was also because we played poorly in Test matches. But in one-day series, we gave South Africa tough time.”
“I really liked the way Pakistan played at The Oval. The main bowlers were rested but Junaid, Wahab, Ahsan Adil and Asad bowled brilliantly. From the first ball, the body language was good. The attitude was right. South Africa looked under pressure. Pakistani chased well.”

Akram said that there was “no issue” with Pakistan’s bowling but conceded the problem area is batting.
“The plan should be that Imran Farhat plays as an anchor and last for 40 hours or so and the boys around him play freely but sensibly. Pakistani batting always comes under pressure if the openers fall early,” he noted.

Courtesy: CRICKET COUNTRY

Akram and Akhtar believe the key to success in English conditions would be a collective effort from the Pakistan team. Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar believe Pakistan have a realistic chance of winning the ICC Champions Trophy in England.

They said the key to success in English conditions would be a collective effort from the Pakistan team.
“There is talent in the team and there is balance but to win everyone, they will have to contribute on the match day in a big tournament like the Champions Trophy,” Akhtar said.
He also felt that Pakistan’s opening match against the West Indies will be the most crucial one for them.

“Winning the first match is very important as the result will either set the momentum for the team or pull their morale down,” he said.
The fast bowler said the fact that many of the West Indian players had appeared in the Indian Premier League should not be a concern for Pakistan.

“The West Indians are coming from playing in the IPL but conditions in England are totally different and it will be a different ball game for them in this tournament,” he said.
Akhtar felt that while the match against India would be a high-pressure one, beating South Africa would be very important for Pakistan.
“I know we lost to South Africa recently in the series but the South Africans have had a problem winning big events. Just like Bangladesh is still struggling to win Test matches. So in England Pakistan have a good chance of beating South Africa,” Akhtar added.

Akram had no doubt that Pakistan has sent a balanced team.
“West Indies is a dangerous side and matches against South Africa and India will be tough but I think our team has all the firepower to deliver and play to expectations,” he said.

“Pakistan should also not be worried about the form of Chris Gayle. He is a dangerous player but I think our new ball pace attack of Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan will cause him problems in England and can contain him,” Akram said.

“It is a big tournament so every match is crucial. Our team has to play every match positively and with same momentum,” he said.

Courtesy: NDTV SPORTS

- Wasim Akram’s trip to Yanbu for Moneygram Champions Trophy, Saudi Arabia.

- Wasim Akram with Saudi Gazette’s chief editor, Khalid Al Maeena.

Twitter: @WasimAkramLive, @Saudi_Gazette, @GameManager.

The officials from the Saudi Cricket Centre; Mr. Nadeem Nadwi, Sadiqul Islam, Sameer Nidal Khan, Hamid Rana and MoneyGram official Mr. John Clayman welcoming Wasim Akram.

Wasim_Akram_Jeddah_Hala_Cricket_Academy_Saudi_Arabia_2013

After their five-wicket defeat against Pune Warriors, Delhi finished last for the second time in three years. Sehwag horrible batting form has bewildered the game’s pundits.

In a scathing attack on his inconsistent batting form during the Indian Premier League, former Pakistan Test captain Wasim Akram has called Virender Sehwag a “No. 11 batsman.” This is probably the worst compliment Sehwag has ever got in his career.

A former Kolkata Knight Riders bowling consultant, Akram has always been a Sehwag fan. At a time when selectors gave the former Indian Test batsman the cold shoulder, the Pakistani legend has always stood by Sehwag.

“He is one innings away from striking good form,” Akram would always say. But to label him a “No. 11 batsman” only shows Akram’s frustration at Sehwag’s consistent failures for Delhi Daredevils.

On Sunday against Pune, Sehwag once again made a bright start and then lost his way. His 10-ball 11 (two fours) has been typical of him in the IPL. Batting at No. 4 and at a stage when Delhi had lost David Warner and Mahela Jayawardene cheaply, Sehwag once again refused to show the responsibility expected of him. Is it just his lack of focus and interest after being booted out of the Indian team?

Akram says in his newspaper column: “His fitness and his hand-eye coordination are not the same anymore and he looks like a No. 11 batsman. He is not even a pale shadow of the Sehwag we all know.”

But for an unbeaten 95 against Mumbai Indians, Sehwag has been conspicuous by his failures. He scored 295 runs in 13 matches at an average of 24.58. Sehwag had a healthy strike rate of 126.60 but it did not help Delhi’s cause. Viv Richards batting tips – mix his game and take responsibility – definitely didn’t make an impression on Sehwag.

Courtesy: NDTV INDIA