‘I knew it before the series’: Wasim Akram predicts Pakistan 3-0 in England

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said he knew ahead of the ongoing Test series in England that Pakistan would lose 3-0. Pakistan have struggled to challenge England in the first two Tests and are 0-2 in the third and final Test, which starts on Wednesday.“I knew before the series that we were going to lose 3-0 to England,” Akram was quoted as saying by The Athletic. “Our batting is problematic, our bowling is subpar and our fielding is worse. It’s not rocket science.”Akram was an important part of the Pakistan team that won three straight Test series in England in 1987 and 1996. He also captained Pakistan in the last of those series victories.

Akram reacts to major PCB changes

Pakistan’s poor performances drew criticism, but the Pakistan Cricket Board’s sweeping changes after the second Test also shocked the cricketing world.The PCB sent seven players from the team back home and sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his staff after the second Test.Akram said he feels for the players but believes their attitude is also part of the problem.“But in Pakistan we have a saying, ‘You can only clap with two hands,'” he said. “They keep asking me, ‘Can you do anything to help Pakistan cricket?’ But the problems are much deeper. These are the top players, there is nothing else. There are no systems below that. The first-class structure domestically has been all over the place for the last few years and there is no consistency, no patience.“It’s getting to the fans as well. They see the team losing and they want to tear it up too. We’ve done it so many times and now there’s really nothing left,” Akram said.

“There can be no compromise” on Imran Khan’s health

Akram also spoke about his friend and former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and expressed concern about his health. Akram said he had not spoken to Imran for three years and expressed concern about what was happening to him.“I have not spoken to him for three years. It is so unfortunate, politically, what is happening to him. Court is court. But as far as his health is concerned, there is no compromise on that,” Akram said.“There is a movement (to improve Imran’s conditions) in England and elsewhere, but here (in Pakistan)? I’m not so sure,” Akram said.“I speak from the heart as someone who is worried about him as a person. Convicted or not. Jail or no jail. We have to protect his health. We don’t know what’s going on, the government says his health is apparently fine. But I’m worried. I miss him so much.”