Wasim Akram
On the ICC Cricket World Radio Show this week was Former Pakistani great Wasim Akram, who spoke about the present and future of Pakistan cricket.
The world’s second highest wicket taker in ODI cricket was quite happy with Pakistan’s performance in the World Cup and said, “I think Pakistan did extremely well in the World Cup. They qualified for the semi-finals. Of course they lost to India and India went on to win the World Cup, but Pakistan really did well under Shahid Afridi. To qualify for the semi-finals, after going through the controversies that they have been for the last 6-8 months, I think they recovered very well. That’s the beauty of Pakistan cricket and Pakistan team… they go on and play their natural cricket [no matter what the situation is], and they are enjoying the cricket under Shahid Afridi, be it in one day cricket or T20.”
On being asked whether the Pakistan team was adjusting well to the conditions in West Indies, he said “In West Indies the weather, the wickets are definitely close to the sub-continent wickets. [Moreover] West Indies team is struggling; Chris Gayle is not there and Dwayne Bravo has just got fit. In general Pakistan team on paper is definitely miles ahead of West Indies team and West Indies cricket is definitely struggling now… Pakistan has shown that with so many controversies and with no team touring Pakistan , we still have incredible amount of talent and Shahid Afridi and his boys have shown in the first three one dayers against the Windies.They won the matches convincingly. It shows that Pakistan cricket and team is definitely on the rise and that’s a great sight.”
On finding a new all-rounder in Md. Hafeez who can bowl his ten overs and opens the batting as well, he says “Md. Hafeez never impressed me before. In this World Cup he played well and I think he has evolved as an all-rounder… he’s got the confidence going. In the last few months he has shown that he is the main man performing with the bat as well as with the ball [for Pakistan].”
Finally on being asked, how he saw Pakistan faring in the Test series against West Indies after the team had won the ODI series, he replied “I think Pakistan are definitely the favorites. We have very good spinners… As far as the fast bowlers are concerned we have Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz, who runs in every ball and bowls quick. Misbah Ul Haq will be the captain of the side in [the] Test series… the wickets will be very sub-continent like. So those wickets will suit Pakistan team for sure.”
Tags: ICC Cricket World Radio Show, Pakistan, Test Cricket, Test Series, Wasim Akram, West Indies, Windies
