Wasim Akram’s lament about the dire state of Pakistan Cricket
Wasim Akram, legendary Pakistan pace bowler and captain, believes the issues plaguing Pakistan Cricket today will take a lot of work to undo.
Speaking about Pakistan’s shambolic Test tour of England to The Athletic, Akram said, “I knew before the series we were going to lose 3-0 to England. Our batting is struggling, our bowling is below average and our fielding is worse. It’s not rocket science.”
“I get asked all the time, ‘Can you do something to help Pakistan cricket?’ But the issues are a lot deeper. These are the top players, there’s nothing else there. The systems aren’t there below that. The first-class structure domestically has been all over the place the last few years and there’s no consistency, no patience.
“That dribbles down to the fans, too. They see the team lose and they want to rip it all up, too. We’ve done that so many times and now there is nothing really left.”
His comments come in the wake of controversial mid-tour axings and resignations in the Pakistan setup and a new look side currently attempting — and seemingly failing — to secure a consolation win at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Mammoth defeats in the opening two encounters mean Pakistan has already lost the three-match series in emphatic fashion.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the extraordinary step of sending seven players home and calling up another seven, five of whom are uncapped at Test level.
At the same time, the PCB also sacked Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling chief Umar Gul, replacing them with Pakistan white-ball counterparts Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
Salman Ali Agha — Pakistan’s captain at Headingley when Babar Azam was injured — and left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who took a five-wicket haul in that match, were among those told to leave.
So too were experienced wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq, who did not bat in either innings at Lord’s because of a calf injury.
The fear among Pakistan supporters is even a win in Birmingham could do more long-term harm than good by papering over the cracks in a dysfunctional set-up.
Published on Sep 09, 2026