Shoaib Akhtar disappointed with Pakistan’s performance against England

Former speed star, Shoaib Akhtar has slammed Pakistan pacers’ ordinary show in the ongoing ODI series against England. Akhtar also urged Pakistan Cricket Board to step up and take an initiative to unearth new pace talent.

Including Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema and Wahab Riaz, Pakistan’s pace attack failed to do anything special in the opening three ODIs against Alastair Cook and men. Since the new ball bowlers could not provide an early breakthrough, the likes of Saeed Ajmal and
Shahid Afridi automatically came under pressure.

Pakistan have lost the series 3-0, with the fourth and final game is set to be played later this week. Talking about the prime reason behind Pakistan’s lacklustre show especially after a great performance in the Tests, Akhtar held fast bowlers responsible.

"People talk about talent in Pakistan where is the talent. I think it is about time the authorities started a search for new pace bowling talent from the big cities to remote areas and even in the northern mountainous areas," Akhtar said.

"We need to find new pace bowling talent," he added. Interestingly Pakistan cricket prides itself on the pacers it has produced over the years. Imran Khan left a legacy of pace bowlers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis when he retired. But since then the
cupboard has worn thin," he told ‘PTV sports’.

The Rawalpindi Express always expressed his concerns over the selection policy. He asked skipper Misbah-ul-Haq to sit down with the selectors and pick a strong side for the future competitions. On Imran Farhat, Akhtar said that the left-handed opening batsman
should not be in the team, as he is yet to rectify his mistakes even after playing so much international cricket.

"Our batting has always remained a problem and it is the bowling that has carried us through. It is time for everyone to sit down and decide what they want to do. Because our batsmen keep on making same mistakes. If Imran Farhat can’t learn to rectify his
mistakes even after 12 years of international cricket than he should not be in the team," he shared.

Akhtar added, "I though England underestimated us in the Tests and we underestimated them in the ODI series."

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Posted by Rana Nasir Ghafoor on Feb 19 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry