The Pakistan cricket team has faced intense scrutiny after losing their opening T20 World Cup 2024 match to the United States, followed by a defeat against arch-rivals India, a game they seemed likely to win for most of the match. Following Pakistan's underperformance, cricket legend Wasim Akram had an on-camera meltdown, declaring he no longer supports the team and criticizing internal issues.
"I can't bring that (killer) instinct in them. It has to come from within," Akram said on Star Sports before Pakistan's match against Canada in New York. Babar Azam's men eventually won that contest convincingly.
"Boht ho gaya, boht back kar liya. Ab ye viral ho jaye, I don't care (enough is enough, backed them enough, now I don't care even if this goes viral)," Akram remarked during a conversation with former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Akram revealed players aren't communicating due to personal issues, although he didn't name anyone specifically.
"Somebody has to speak the truth about this Pakistan cricket (team). It's kind of getting out of hand. Kisi ka mood off hai, woh uss se baat nahi kar raha, yeh uss se baat nahi kar raha (somebody's mood is off, this guy is not talking to that guy). Come on guys! What is this going on! Poore mulq ke jazbaat ka tumne satyanaash maar ke rakh diya hai. Hadd hoti hai kisi cheez ki (you have played with the emotions of the entire nation, there is a limit to everything)," Akram said in a furious rant.
Earlier, Akram had called for a new team to be deployed, noting the entire Pakistan cricket community's disheartenment.
"Enough is enough! Done! Bring in new kids, make a new Pakistan team. The entire Pakistan community back home and here (in the US) is depressed. They were celebrating that we are winning (against India), after a long time, that too against such a big team. But they (Pakistan team) said 'no, we don't want to win come what may'," Akram stated.
"Now they should go, look at themselves in the mirror and say on their own that they won't play now...My advice to them (Pakistan Cricket Board) will be play a new team, new kids. We are anyway losing...mold those kids. There will be a team in place in one year's time."
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