NOTTINGHAM: Former captain and ‘Swing Ka Sultan,’ Wasim Akram says it was embarrassing to see Pakistan team being outplayed like a club side in the third ODI against England on Wednesday in Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
England defeated Pakistan by 169 runs after posting a mammoth 444/3 in 50 overs – the highest ODI total ever – and the former skipper has termed as “poor”.
“They outplayed us in every department of the game. Our performance wasn’t just below average, it was poor. Our fielding was pathetic,” Wasim told Geo News after Pakistan’s defeat in the third ODI.
“We looked like a club side today with the decisions captain made on the field. Siting upstairs in the commentary box it actually became embarrassing to see Pakistan’s performance,” he added.
The former captain said Pakistan looked helpless and clueless in all the three departments of the game and England was miles ahead than our team. He also criticised the team for lack of planning.
“It seems that team came without a plan B, they came with the mind to win the toss and bat comfortably, they didn’t know what would they do if they lose the toss,” he said.
“Then we bowled poorly, 110 runs in 10 overs is unbelievable. You can’t give this much runs even if you deliver all the balls as full toss. Adding insult to injuries, our fielding was more pathetic. We claim to be a young side, a young side should be perfect in fielding not like ours,” added the Swing Ka Sultan.
Wasim demanded that Pakistan should recall Ahmad Shahzad and Umar Akmal back to Pakistan ODI squad for future series instead of wasting the duo in the name of discipline.
“They have already been punished, now forget it and bring them back. Drop them forever if they violates discipline ever again but currently it is the time to bring Umar and Ahmad back to Pakistan team,” he said.
Asked if some of the players should now be dropped after poor show in the series, Wasim said that it should be decided by selectors and that selection committee led by Inzamam must be considering it.
“But, you don’t have too much option really and that’s why these players stick around with the team despite continuous failures.
“This is all the talent we have, we don’t have anything exceptional and that’s because we don’t invest on our domestic cricket. If we want to our cricket then we must invest in domestic cricket and organise more tours for Pakistan A and U19 teams,” he suggested.
