Former Pakistan cricket team captain
Wasim Akram has urged struggling skipper Misbah-ul Haq to say good-bye
to ODIs, while blaming a lack of international cricket and the absence
of a system for developing young players for the team's disappointing
defeats in recent months.
Pakistan lost the final ODI against Australia in Abu Dhabi
on Sunday to complete a 3-0 rout, and the upcoming Test series in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) looks likely to be a tough proposition.
The fast bowling
legend Wasim urged struggling one-day and Test captain Misbah to take a
positive approach with the team, or step aside. He said that the
skipper should take brave and aggressive decisions but added that he is
not doing that, The Dawn reported.
Akram said that if any vice captain is ready to lead then Pakistan
must say goodbye to Misbah, who withdrew himself from the third and
final ODI in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, as far as ODI is concerned.
The common complaint in international cricket is that teams play too
many matches, but Akram said that Pakistan was suffering for precisely
the opposite reason. He said that Australia was always favourites to win
the one-day series, so he added that do not blame the Pakistan team,
because they are playing so much less international cricket than other
countries.
Pakistan lost one-day and Test series against Sri Lanka in August, their first international encounters in six months.
Akram said that India
is playing too much cricket and so is Sri Lanka, and they are
performing well. While hitting out at a lack of infrastructure and
shortage of junior-level tours, Akram added that he thinks the PCB
should arrange more Under-19 tours and Pakistan 'A' tours which would
help groom youngsters but that is not there.
