Akram lashes out at Pakistan team after Australia loss

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Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has lashed out at the Men in Green, after they suffered a defeat at the hands of Australia during the ongoing 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in England and Wales.

Akram identified number of reasons why Pakistan failed to overpower the Aussies in Taunton on Wednesday.

“Pakistan failed to read the pitch properly and got carried away with the tinge of green on the surface,” said Akram.

He was also unhappy with the decision to drop leg-spinner Shadab Khan from the side.

“Also we made a major blunder by dropping Shadab Khan from the side,” he said. “It’s like dropping Shane Warne and either Saqlain Mushtaq or Mushtaq Ahmed, when both Pakistan and Australia were at their peak. This is something that does not happen.”

The former left-arm fast-bowler was also disappointed with the poor standard of Pakistan’s fielding.

“Our fielding standard was also below par and it is frustrating to see something like this happen time and again,” he said. “Our player also looked lethargic in the field.”

Although he was full of praise for left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, who claimed a five-wicket haul during the match.

“Pakistan did well to restrict to Australia to a manageable total thanks to Amir,” he said. “I had said numerous times before the World Cup began that Amir should be part of the squad and thankfully the team management and selection committee persisted with him.”

The 53-year-old also believed that Pakistan would have chased down the target easily, if batsmen, who got starts, went on to make a big score.

“The players who got starts should have converted it in a big score,” he said. “Even if couple of them had scored 70 odd runs, Pakistan would have won the match easily.”

He added: “In the last seven overs during the run chase, the required run-rate was almost down to run-a-ball and any other team in world cricket would have chased down the target comfortably.”

Speaking about Pakistan’s chances at the 2019 World Cup, Akram said: “Pakistan have to play out of their skins and win all of their remaining matches in the world cup, inorder to stay in contention for the title.”

Pakistan will play their next match in the tournament against arch-rivals India, on Sunday, June 16.