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In a recent, candid interview, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter and T20 World Cup winner Kamran Akmal issued a scathing assessment of the national team’s current trajectory and squad selection. His comments highlight a deep-rooted frustration with the "systemic lag" and cultural issues he believes are paralyzing Pakistan cricket.
Key highlights of the interview:
A Systemic Lag: Kamran Akmal provided a grim reality check, stating that Pakistan is "10 years behind" the rest of the cricketing world in terms of modern strategy and approach. He argues that while global teams have evolved, Pakistan remains stagnant in its methods.
Selection & "Liking-Disliking": One of his most explosive claims focused on the internal culture of the PCB and team management. He asserted that favoritism (the "liking-disliking" culture) has compromised merit-based selection and effectively "destroyed the system."
Haris Rauf Omission: He specifically questioned the rationale behind leaving out Haris Rauf, calling for transparency on the PCB’s thinking.
The Wicketkeeper Crisis: He highlighted a lack of specialist keepers, noting that the three current options are essentially "part-timers," leaving the team vulnerable behind the stumps.
Cultural Gap: Pakistan vs. The World: Drawing a comparison to Australia, Kamran Akmal noted that elite nations prioritize the sport above all else. He used Steve Smith as an example to illustrate that in successful cultures, no individual player is considered bigger than the game itself.
Supporting the Stars: Despite his criticisms of the system, Kamran Akmal remains a staunch supporter of Babar Azam. He argued that the management must provide Babar with consistent backing and the right resources ("force to feed him"), emphasizing that the star batter’s success is vital for the team right now.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
Key highlights of the interview:
A Systemic Lag: Kamran Akmal provided a grim reality check, stating that Pakistan is "10 years behind" the rest of the cricketing world in terms of modern strategy and approach. He argues that while global teams have evolved, Pakistan remains stagnant in its methods.
Selection & "Liking-Disliking": One of his most explosive claims focused on the internal culture of the PCB and team management. He asserted that favoritism (the "liking-disliking" culture) has compromised merit-based selection and effectively "destroyed the system."
Haris Rauf Omission: He specifically questioned the rationale behind leaving out Haris Rauf, calling for transparency on the PCB’s thinking.
The Wicketkeeper Crisis: He highlighted a lack of specialist keepers, noting that the three current options are essentially "part-timers," leaving the team vulnerable behind the stumps.
Cultural Gap: Pakistan vs. The World: Drawing a comparison to Australia, Kamran Akmal noted that elite nations prioritize the sport above all else. He used Steve Smith as an example to illustrate that in successful cultures, no individual player is considered bigger than the game itself.
Supporting the Stars: Despite his criticisms of the system, Kamran Akmal remains a staunch supporter of Babar Azam. He argued that the management must provide Babar with consistent backing and the right resources ("force to feed him"), emphasizing that the star batter’s success is vital for the team right now.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
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