Pakistan great Wasim Akram has expressed frustration over the country’s continued struggles in Test cricket, arguing that the lack of quality batting talent emerging through the system has become a major concern.Speaking to the media in Lahore on Friday, the former fast bowler said Pakistan’s home-and-away Test series defeat to Bangladesh should have prompted the authorities to take immediate corrective measures. Instead, he felt little changed after what should have been a warning sign.Akram pointed towards the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which has been running for a decade, and questioned whether the tournament had produced any significant batting talent for the national team.“It has been 10 years since the PSL started, but has a single batter been produced by the PSL? Yes we have produced a few bowlers but tell me have we produced any noteworthy batting talent,” he questioned.
Akram points to India’s teenage sensation
Akram also highlighted the emergence of a 15-year-old batting talent in neighbouring India, an apparent reference to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as an example of the kind of player Pakistan needs to produce.“I think when we produce a batting talent like the 14-year old then we will see improvement coming through,” Akram said.While he felt Pakistan remained competitive in white-ball cricket, the former pacer was far less optimistic about the team’s position in the longer format, describing the state of Test cricket as “bad”.Akram also played down the importance of who takes charge as Pakistan’s coach, saying that whether the PCB appoints him or Gary Kirsten, the fundamental challenge would remain because the coach would still be working with the same pool of players.Rather than repeatedly changing personnel, Akram called for the PCB’s domestic structure to be given time to produce results. He believes the system should be allowed to operate for three to four years, with patience and long-term planning essential to any improvement.Akram admitted that he was just as disappointed as any other Pakistani by the team’s recent performances.“Club cricket needs to be revived if we want improvement in red ball cricket. The PCB should spend 100 million rupees each in Karachi and Lahore, as talent comes from club cricket.”He also called for greater consistency in the national side, pointing out that Pakistan have continued to rotate players without addressing the underlying problems.He said there should be consistency in the team, but the players remain the same — they just keep coming and going.
Akram questions Pakistan batters’ approach in England
Pakistan’s ongoing Test series in England also came under scrutiny, with Akram criticising the team’s approach against the home bowlers.“In England in the ongoing series they didn’t move their front foot forward, playing bowlers like Ollie Robinson while standing rooted in the crease. You need to play with courage, but for that, talent is essential.”Akram also offered his assessment of Pakistan’s fast-bowling resources, arguing that raw pace alone should not be used to judge a bowler.He said bowling one ball at 150 km/h was no big deal and stressed that the real test was whether a fast bowler could maintain around 140 km/h throughout the day.The former Pakistan captain also urged caution over the excitement surrounding the country’s emerging fast bowlers. Rather than making early judgments about their potential, he said the youngsters should first be given the opportunity to play.Shaheen Afridi was another topic of discussion, with Akram describing the left-arm pacer as an experienced bowler. He said he did not know why Shaheen’s pace had dropped, but felt that a bowler with his experience should have travelled to England.Akram also named Akif Javed as a player he would have preferred to see given an opportunity.“If it were up to me, I would have asked for Akif Javed, as he bowled well recently in England.”Akram’s comments come amid mounting concern over Pakistan’s Test performances and the quality of players emerging through the country’s domestic system, with the former pacer calling for a longer-term approach rather than repeated changes without addressing the roots of the problem.