"Interest in cricket is going down in Pakistan because the team doesn't win matches" : Shoaib Akhtar

[Abdullah719]

"Interest in cricket is going down in Pakistan because the team doesn't win matches" : Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar speaking on TV:

"It was expected that Pakistan might not perform well in NZ so over the top criticism is not required."

"The quality of cricket in Pakistan is going down. No one watches the matches. I've met thousands of people who say that they don't watch the matches. They say that since you, Wasim, Latif left, we don't watch the matches. The interest in cricket is going down in Pakistan because the team doesn't win matches."

"It will be tough times for Pakistan in Australia. Australia has a system where they have had to answer after losing games. Lehmann is under pressure and a selector has left. With us, they just say back the team and it'll be alright."

"Why ask for Misbah to stay till 2018 only? Ask him to stay till 2025!"

"When Pakistan plays outside UAE and Sharjah, they will struggle."

"If you make a 40 or 50 in testing conditions under pressure, people will remember you. It doesn't have to be a hundred. You need to show fight."

"If I gained a reputation or Wasim Akram gained a reputation, it was because we won matches."

"Pakistan will struggle in Australia and the captain, board, chairman and selectors will have to take responsibility after the tour. If the selectors that they don't have the players, they should leave their jobs."

"Misbah isn't leaving behind a legacy. He had the authority to play youngsters and make a team for the future. Imran Khan's name is alive because he made teams for the future. If Misbah forms a good team in the next two years with a strong middle order then he will be remembered."

 

[Rayyman]

Yes I know people in Pakistan that don't watch also.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

You guys were no.1 just a few months ago, easy with the doom and gloom mood there Shoaib.

All sides are crap away. At least you guys gave England a solid fight in England which most teams struggle to.

 

[Pete Rose]

People lamenting about how 2016 became a post-fact world. Pakistani cricket pundits have owned post-fact for as far back as i can recall.

 

[Hasan123]

Cricket interest is high in Pakistan. Look how much interest there was in the PSL and on social media when Pakistan are playing there is loads of interest from what I have seen. Don't know what Shoaib is on about here.

 

[Abdullah719]

Cricket interest is high in Pakistan. Look how much interest there was in the PSL and on social media when Pakistan are playing there is loads of interest from what I have seen. Don't know what Shoaib is on about here.

He was saying he meets 'laakhon' people everyday who tell him they aren't interested in cricket...

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Football is getting bigger and bigger day by day and no money being pumped into the cricketing structure in the country is to blame behind the less loved Cricket. Nobody knows the team names then how would they know the players!

Long gone are the days of the 90's and early 00's when cricket was loved and watched like mad by all in Pakistan.

 

[Mamoon]

No, the interest is not going down. Usual drivel from Shoaib.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

There are two things that will never die in Pakistan and that is cricket and corruption.

 

[Mamoon]

Football is getting bigger and bigger day by day and no money being pumped into the cricketing structure in the country is to blame behind the less loved Cricket. Nobody knows the team names then how would they know the players!

Long gone are the days of the 90's and early 00's when cricket was loved and watched like mad by all in Pakistan.

It is a misconception. Even in the 90's and early 2000's, people did not care about Test cricket in Pakistan. The only difference is that we don't play India anymore which was a big factor back then and secondly, you become a star in Pakistan by performing in Limited Overs cricket, and we have been rubbish at that for nearly a decade now.

However, it is not right to say that interest in cricket is plummeting and it will be superseded by football. That will never happen.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

It is a misconception. Even in the 90's and early 2000's, people did not care about Test cricket in Pakistan. The only difference is that we don't play India anymore which was a big factor back then and secondly, you become a star in Pakistan by performing in Limited Overs cricket, and we have been rubbish at that for nearly a decade now.

However, it is not right to say that interest in cricket is plummeting and it will be superseded by football. That will never happen.

Not saying that it will be superseded by Football but you can't overlook the fact that it has gripped attention of more people especially youngsters in the country now than it ever has before.

Hockey, squash, cricket are there but far behind in the sports that people follow or take a keen interest in following in Pakistan when compared to football due to its worldwide following and the televising of it.

 

[Suleiman]

Just look at the user base on pp, plenty of young Pakistanis, most being overseas with no access to seeing games live with Pakistan (unless in Eng, but not like we play there all the time)

So just imagine how much cricket must be followed back in Pak...

I can go to any neighborhood with bat and ball and will get a crowd to play with enough players for 2 teams.

Same for the other South Asian countries.

 

[Syed1]

Pakistanis in general don't care much about test cricket (and I don't blame them), but ODI and T20 cricket is still all the rage in Pakistan.

I would love for us to diversify and play other sports as well, but that is atleast two three decades away.

 

[Saj]

Standard of tv punditry in Pakistan seems to be going downhill day by day.

 

[Markhor]

More nonsense from Shoaib.

He should recall given he played during the era that when Pakistan were hosting Test cricket at home, it would not be an uncommon sight to see more security guards in the stands than actual fans.

As for the lack of success of this team, this team reached #1 in the world.

Whilst Shoaib was part of a side that crashed out of the group stages of the World Cup in 2003 (when Sachin whacked him all over Centurion) and 2007 (when Shoaib and his buddy Asif chickened out because they were scared they were gonna be busted for drugs AGAIN).

I loved Shoaib the bowler but its a shame he seeks to revise history in such a false and inaccurate way.

 

[Musakhel]

I hope football overtakes cricket In Pakistan, but I know it won't happen, we are damned to be a one sport country.

 

[TQ89]

It is never gonna undertake cricket in pakistan. Most of my football loving friends also think that it is gaining interest in youth, it shall overtake.

The reason is pretty simple. Football is popular among the urban youth while cricket is wildly popular in the masses (semi-urban & rural areas). Just visit any town or village on sundays, you will understand what I am saying.