Wasim Akram didn't hold back as he criticised senior Pakistan cricketers, urging for a complete overhaul of the squad. Following Pakistan's defeat against India in the T20 World Cup, Akram highlighted the lack of "game awareness" among the players, particularly singling out Mohammad Rizwan for criticism.
"Rizwan lacks game awareness," Akram stated bluntly during his analysis on Star Sports. He pointed out Rizwan's dismissal by Jasprit Bumrah, emphasising that Rizwan should have played cautiously against a bowler known for taking wickets rather than attempting a risky shot.
Furthermore, Akram didn't spare other players from scrutiny. He criticised Iftikhar Ahmed's limited shot selection despite his tenure in the team and expressed frustration over Fakhar Zaman's perceived lack of understanding of the game's nuances.
Akram also shed light on internal team dynamics, revealing that Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi were not on speaking terms since the captaincy change. This rift in communication within the team was deemed unacceptable by international cricket standards Akram.
In conclusion, Akram advocated for significant changes, suggesting that merely replacing coaches wouldn't suffice and that a complete overhaul of the team was necessary. He underscored the importance of playing for the country and called for players who couldn't cooperate to be side-lined.
The match marked a historic defensive effort by India, defending its lowest total in T20 internationals and extending its dominance over Pakistan in T20Is to 7-1.