'Rizwan, this is not your uncle's team': Akhtar slams team selection

Pakistan’s legendary former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lashed out at the national men’s team’s management, criticising them for not making the right selections and not playing according to the requirements of modern-day cricket.

The Rawalpindi Express stated that the national side should not be taken for granted, while talking about prolific wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.

“There is no injustice as long as Pakistan is winning. If somebody misses out, than that is ok. There was a series going on so it wasn’t necessary to criticise them during it. We support them so that they can make the right decisions. Now that the series is over, I am shouting my lungs out to say, ‘don’t play this type of cricket’. This is not acceptable. If you keep going this way, you will keep failing,” said Akhtar while speaking on PTV Sports.

“You don’t know what you are supposed to do with Rizwan. Rizwan also has to start thinking. This isn’t anyone’s uncle’s team that you can open in each format of the sport. You have to adjust the role given to you by the team. As long as Pakistan is winning, it doesn’t matter who it is or where he is coming from, a player should be performing and performing up to my wishes and according to the new brand of cricket’s requirements. It is as simple as that. If you don’t, then there is the exit, you can leave. Don’t misbehave, just don’t select them,” he added.

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The 45-year-old urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take immediate action against the backwards mindset employed by the national men’s team.

“I think the PCB must take a notice of the backwards mindset being carried by the national team. They are carrying it forward and shouldn’t. They should send a strong message to the management. They should tell them that this is the kind of cricket we want to play. This is Test cricket for us and this is the kind of strike rate I require from the captain and the team. They need to identify the talent and their respective roles. Select the right people, those who deserve. They should demand that,” he concluded.