Wasim Akram lashes out at former Pakistani cricketers over coaching role

Wasim Akram is currently part of the Kolkata Knight Riders coaching team

Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram has lashed out at some of the former Pakistani players for not applying for the head coach’s position of the national team because of his involvement in the shortlisting of candidates.

Though the 49-year-old did not take any names but it was obvious that he referred to former Test cricketer Mohsin Khan and Aaqib Javed. He expressed his disappointment at the fact that some former cricketers didn’t apply because they felt that the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) coach finding committee had already hinted at appointing a foreign coach.

The former Pakistani captain was clearly furious over this issue and questioned the mindset. He said, "What sort of attitude and mindset is this. One former player said I will apply and talk directly to the Chairman. When you have such a mindset how can one expect them to work well with the Pakistan team."

The Pakistan Cricket Board previously appointed a coach finding committee which includes the likes of Wasim Akram and another former cricketer Rameez Raja. Akram, who is also a well-known commentator, said that he had always believed in giving respect to his senior players.

Akram was evidently riled by the statements of Mohsin Khan, who said that he wouldn't apply to his juniors or players with a polluted past. Akram also pointed out that respect is mutual and while giving respect to others he also expects respect from them. He said, "But even respect is a give and take thing and one expects to be respected by everyone."

Former South African cricketer Mickey Arthur was appointed as the coach of the Pakistan team after Stuart Law and Peter Moores pulled themselves out of contention. Akram also said that Arthur has a lot of coaching experience under his belt and he hoped that he would be able to help the Pakistan team.

Akram, who has picked up more than 900 international wickets also said that one should not expect Arthur to bring about an improvement immediately, "But one should not expect him to bring about improvement immediately as our team is currently languishing at ninth position in ODI rankings. Even he will require time to turn things around."

He called Pakistan’s recent poor performances as shameful, "It is shameful but this downslide has not happened overnight. It is a result of the fact that our domestic cricket structure has lost its competitive edge and is not producing quality players for a while now."

The “Sultan of Swing” concluded by saying that he didn't agree with this approach of selectors or the Board, "If we drop players on purely disciplinary grounds than let me tell you many of our era would not have even played for Pakistan including myself. I think if a player has a problem it is the job of the team management and captain to deal with it and get him to perform."