Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Shoaib Akhtar on YouTube after the 2nd T20I against England:
“Pakistan made a lot of mistakes but they played well. The batting was good, Hafeez took his time and then capitalized. But we didn’t make runs in the middle order at the rate we should have. We needed acceleration and we aren’t getting it like Malan and Morgan did.
“Pakistan can do wonders if they put their act together. Pakistan needs to fix their selection. Your premium fast-bowler Wahab Riaz is sitting out. You’re not playing Haider Ali. I think he should replace Iftikhar. You can promote Shadab.
“Pakistan didn’t make enough runs. 195 is OK but on this wicket against this attack, you can make 230. Malik, Iftikhar, and Babar made around 78 off 65 balls. Morgan, Malan, Bairstow make 100-125 in this many balls.
“I don’t know how Pakistan’s confidence can come back to the level of the 90s. Misbah is sitting their holding his head. I can understand his frustration, but when are we going to give Babar the liberty to become his own captain? We don’t have a biosecure environment here, we have a bio-insecure bubble where everyone is insecure. People don’t know if they’re going to remain captain or become a brand.
“Babar looks like a lost cow to me. He’s out there, not knowing what to do. He should do captaincy himself and make his own decisions so that he can improve and become better. Getting parchis from outside and 3 guys advising him in the middle isn’t right. Babar needs to understand that this is something coming his way and he won’t get the chance during the rest of his life. He needs to try to become a brand. He can improve his own SR a bit also.
“When Bairstow, Malan, and Morgan bat, they are in command. Our players look scared and they don’t have strength. Hafeez is a smart guy and he knew where to go after them. He understands cricket.
“People say that Hafeez and Malik shouldn’t be there, they were playing with me in 2006. Well, the board selected them, not me so they think they can play. As long as they are performing, they can play even for 2 more years.
“Instead of Iftikhar you should play a proper batsman who can accelerate. We talk about brand building. In PSL, Shadab and Haider Ali are something else from what they are here. Don’t confuse selection, focus on brand and team building. You don’t have to only win the series, you need to build a brand and team.
“For this you need strong people and strong decisions with strong visions. How far can you go if you keep getting scared from the media? Have firm belief in yourself and make your own decisions. Think about where you need to take Pakistan cricket. Think about playing the new players, promote Shadab up the order and give him a chance to accelerate. Haider Ali is a brand, make him into a proper one.
“Confused management, confused captain, confused selection and confusion everywhere. This isn’t how you build a team. Build two new players, keep 4 players who are performing.
“Who is the spearhead of the Pakistan team? No one. In batting? None. OK, we have Babar Azam, but who can you say will really go after them? No one. This used to happen in the 90s where you could say 7 batsmen and 5 bowlers were match winners.
“To bring that era, you need the right people and you need to have guts. The board needs to realize that if you bring average people then you will get average decisions. I’m living a very comfortable life and I don’t need anything, I don’t need a job. But somehow, looking at the way we are going and our mentality and mindset, I think our cricket will end up worse than our hockey. This is what happens when you bring average people.
“It’s not about losing the game, it’s about the mindset. Where are you going in future and where are you going?
“I’m not criticizing them for the sake of it. I want Pakistan to improve. I need stars in the team. 5 strong batsmen. Flamboyant fast-bowlers. So what if we lose? We’re still losing. Have the right attitude. Morgan came and they didn’t bowl him one bouncer.
“Make a strong decision, Misbah and everyone. The bowling coach Viki bhai is there, tell the players what to do but if you can’t, there’s a huge problem. As a bowling unit and coach, it raises a lot of questions when you have such performances and who will answer them? You have to bear the pressure and answer the media. If you can’t, go back to wherever you came from. If you keep going like this then I can see destruction. Don’t do that, that’s not very healthy.
“Best of luck for the next game. Make strong decisions, stick to the young guns and demand performances. This isn’t a school academy.
“You have new coaches coming and saying they are learning. 5 new coaches and it’s their debut. Well, you’re learning and you’ve also come to teach. Who will do the teaching? Mushtaq Ahmed is saying the kids are learning. Is this a school academy? This is the time to perform. If we have hired top performers then we need top performances and outcomes.
“Become your own captain, and give the players confidence so that they know they are there for a year. Let them know they will play full series. Communicate with them.”
“Pakistan made a lot of mistakes but they played well. The batting was good, Hafeez took his time and then capitalized. But we didn’t make runs in the middle order at the rate we should have. We needed acceleration and we aren’t getting it like Malan and Morgan did.
“Pakistan can do wonders if they put their act together. Pakistan needs to fix their selection. Your premium fast-bowler Wahab Riaz is sitting out. You’re not playing Haider Ali. I think he should replace Iftikhar. You can promote Shadab.
“Pakistan didn’t make enough runs. 195 is OK but on this wicket against this attack, you can make 230. Malik, Iftikhar, and Babar made around 78 off 65 balls. Morgan, Malan, Bairstow make 100-125 in this many balls.
“I don’t know how Pakistan’s confidence can come back to the level of the 90s. Misbah is sitting their holding his head. I can understand his frustration, but when are we going to give Babar the liberty to become his own captain? We don’t have a biosecure environment here, we have a bio-insecure bubble where everyone is insecure. People don’t know if they’re going to remain captain or become a brand.
“Babar looks like a lost cow to me. He’s out there, not knowing what to do. He should do captaincy himself and make his own decisions so that he can improve and become better. Getting parchis from outside and 3 guys advising him in the middle isn’t right. Babar needs to understand that this is something coming his way and he won’t get the chance during the rest of his life. He needs to try to become a brand. He can improve his own SR a bit also.
“When Bairstow, Malan, and Morgan bat, they are in command. Our players look scared and they don’t have strength. Hafeez is a smart guy and he knew where to go after them. He understands cricket.
“People say that Hafeez and Malik shouldn’t be there, they were playing with me in 2006. Well, the board selected them, not me so they think they can play. As long as they are performing, they can play even for 2 more years.
“Instead of Iftikhar you should play a proper batsman who can accelerate. We talk about brand building. In PSL, Shadab and Haider Ali are something else from what they are here. Don’t confuse selection, focus on brand and team building. You don’t have to only win the series, you need to build a brand and team.
“For this you need strong people and strong decisions with strong visions. How far can you go if you keep getting scared from the media? Have firm belief in yourself and make your own decisions. Think about where you need to take Pakistan cricket. Think about playing the new players, promote Shadab up the order and give him a chance to accelerate. Haider Ali is a brand, make him into a proper one.
“Confused management, confused captain, confused selection and confusion everywhere. This isn’t how you build a team. Build two new players, keep 4 players who are performing.
“Who is the spearhead of the Pakistan team? No one. In batting? None. OK, we have Babar Azam, but who can you say will really go after them? No one. This used to happen in the 90s where you could say 7 batsmen and 5 bowlers were match winners.
“To bring that era, you need the right people and you need to have guts. The board needs to realize that if you bring average people then you will get average decisions. I’m living a very comfortable life and I don’t need anything, I don’t need a job. But somehow, looking at the way we are going and our mentality and mindset, I think our cricket will end up worse than our hockey. This is what happens when you bring average people.
“It’s not about losing the game, it’s about the mindset. Where are you going in future and where are you going?
“I’m not criticizing them for the sake of it. I want Pakistan to improve. I need stars in the team. 5 strong batsmen. Flamboyant fast-bowlers. So what if we lose? We’re still losing. Have the right attitude. Morgan came and they didn’t bowl him one bouncer.
“Make a strong decision, Misbah and everyone. The bowling coach Viki bhai is there, tell the players what to do but if you can’t, there’s a huge problem. As a bowling unit and coach, it raises a lot of questions when you have such performances and who will answer them? You have to bear the pressure and answer the media. If you can’t, go back to wherever you came from. If you keep going like this then I can see destruction. Don’t do that, that’s not very healthy.
“Best of luck for the next game. Make strong decisions, stick to the young guns and demand performances. This isn’t a school academy.
“You have new coaches coming and saying they are learning. 5 new coaches and it’s their debut. Well, you’re learning and you’ve also come to teach. Who will do the teaching? Mushtaq Ahmed is saying the kids are learning. Is this a school academy? This is the time to perform. If we have hired top performers then we need top performances and outcomes.
“Become your own captain, and give the players confidence so that they know they are there for a year. Let them know they will play full series. Communicate with them.”
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