Tag: Wasim Akram

Former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja became the centre of attention on social media after their emotional reactions during Pakistan’s defeat against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

A video shared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on its official social media platforms showed Akram and Raja sitting in the commentary box, visibly dejected as England captain Harry Brook completed his century and guided his side to victory.

The clip quickly went viral, triggering an emotional response from fans. 

Many supporters related to Akram’s reaction, commenting, “Us Wasim bhai us .” Another user wrote, “Rameez’s face says it all ,” while one fan added, “Feel sad for world legends .”

Some fans focused on Akram’s expression, with one comment reading, “Akram to rone jaise lag raha hai” [Akram looks like he is about to cry]. Another user wrote, “Pain for his eyes 2 legends ”. Others reacted with resignation, saying, “Don’t worry bro ye pehli baar nahi hua ab we all are used to it now” [This is not the first time, we are used to it now].

During the match, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a target of 165 runs. In the chase, Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan early hope with figures of 4 for 30, reducing England to 58 for 4.

Brook then turned the game around with a brilliant 100 off 51 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. He built crucial partnerships with Sam Curran, who scored 16 off 15 balls, and Will Jacks, who made 28 off 23 deliveries. England sealed the win with two wickets in hand.

The result secured England a place in the semi-finals. Pakistan now have only one Super 8 match left against Sri Lanka on February 28, while England will face New Zealand on February 27. 

Even a win may not guarantee Pakistan a semi-final spot, as New Zealand currently has three points. If England defeat New Zealand by a big margin and Pakistan beat Sri Lanka with a strong Net Run Rate (NRR), then both Pakistan and New Zealand would have three points each, and the semi-final spot would be decided by NRR.

Former Pakistan cricket captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has taken a humourous jab at the months-long T20 cricketing leagues, praising the shorter format of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Speaking at the PSL’s historic roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Monday, Akram highlighted the league’s efficient scheduling as one of its key strengths. 

“The best thing about PSL is that it lasts for 34 days or a bit more next year. It’s not three months long like other leagues,” he said. 

“Bachay bade ho jate hai, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti [kids grow up but the league doesn’t end],” he remarked, in an apparent reference to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash.

He explained that foreign players prefer shorter commitments when playing in leagues.

“At least foreign players, when they come to Pakistan, to any league, they prefer to be there for 35 to 40 days. More than that, two and a half, three months is a bit too long for everyone. I mean, even I get bored watching league cricket for three months,” he said.

He cited the Big Bash League as a prime example of leagues realising the drawbacks of extended formats.

“It started out for three months, two and a half months, and now they realized after about four, five years, it’s not working. And now their period, I think now their time is about 40 days. About 40 days, 10 games each, six teams and finish off,” he added.

Akram also addressed team owners directly, urging them to stop questioning coaches after match defeats. 

“Owners often approach coaches immediately after losses and ask why they lost the match. This question has no clear answer because cricket is a sport where sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

Several former and current cricketers attended the event, including Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan. 

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, global investors and commercial partners also joined the roadshow.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has shared his honest thoughts on what’s damaging the spirit of the game, urging cricket authorities to bring fairness and unity back to the sport.

In an interview with Wisden, the legendary fast bowler said, “What I don’t like in cricket is politics. I am sorry. Straightforward. Sports should be away from politics.”

️ Wasim Akram: “What I don’t like in cricket is politics, I’m sorry.” ❌ pic.twitter.com/zY7fQGAz7H

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 2, 2025

Akram said cricket has become increasingly divided and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and national boards to take responsibility. “Pick every player from every nation. Be brave, be bigger, but that’s not happening. That’s where I think the ICC comes in. That’s where cricket boards come in. It doesn’t matter who owns the leagues, doesn’t matter who owns the teams in the leagues, every player from every nation should be picked up,” he added.

Akram’s remarks come in the backdrop of rising tension and visible divisions in international cricket. 

During the 2025 Asia Cup, India’s conduct became a major talking point after Indian players avoided handshakes with Pakistani cricketers. The controversy deepened when the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the presentation ceremony.

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has shut down all debates over the country’s greatest player, declaring Imran Khan as the best ever produced by Pakistan.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Akram wrote, “The best ever cricketer produced by Pakistan is one and only skipper Imran Khan and please finish this debate right now.”

The best ever cricketer produced by Pakistan is one and only skipper Imran Khan and please finish this debate right now.

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) October 5, 2025

Earlier this year, the Sultan of Swing talked about his experience learning from Imran on the Stick To Cricket podcast hosted by Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell. Akram said that whatever he achieved as a cricketer, both on and off the field, was because of Imran’s influence.

“He was the best captain I played under. He gave us confidence, led from the front, and believed in his own ability,” Akram had said.

The 59-year-old added that while people often called him naturally talented, Imran was not gifted in the same way but succeeded through sheer hard work and determination.

“He wasn’t talented. He worked hard. He even changed his bowling action completely, something that takes months, sometimes  never works, but he did it,” Akram said, calling his former skipper “tough but fair.”

Wasim, who made his international debut in 1984 under Imran’s captaincy, credited the skipper for shaping him into one of the finest bowlers in the world. The two later became key figures in Pakistan’s historic 1992 World Cup triumph, a victory that cemented Imran’s name in cricket history.

Over his international career, Imran Khan played 88 Test matches, scoring 3,807 runs at an average of 37.69 with six centuries and 18 fifties, while taking 362 wickets at an exceptional average of 22.81. In 175 One Day Internationals, he amassed 3,709 runs at 33.41 and claimed 182 wickets, with a career-best figure of 6 for 14.

Sultan of swing Wasim Akram has finally responded to the viral photos of a statue erected in his honour at Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium, and he did it with humour and class.

The statue, unveiled a while ago, went viral after photos appeared online, showing that the figure looked nothing like Wasim Akram. The statue then launched a storm of memes as the internet convulsed with laughter at the questionable tribute to the great bowler. 

Sharing a photo of his statue alongside a sculpture of a very funny looking tiger, the former cricketer wrote, “Lots of talk about my sculpture being erected at Niaz Stadium Hyderabad. Mine is definitely better than the tiger. Btw it’s the idea that matters. Credit to the creators & full marks for the effort and thanks to everyone involved…”

Lots of talk about my sculpture being erected at Naiz stadium Hyderabad “Mine is definitely better than the tiger”, btw it’s the idea that matters credit to the creators & full marks for the effort and thanks to everyone involved… pic.twitter.com/Eb6aOmpWH5

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) June 12, 2025

The tiger sculpture, another viral statue which looks more like a dog than a mighty predator, became part of the joke as fans compared the two. Akram’s response quickly went viral, with many appreciating his lighthearted and positive attitude.

Earlier, the statue showing Wasim Akram in his signature left-arm bowling action, wearing the 1999 World Cup jersey, had become meme material online. Although it was officially unveiled in April 2025, the photo only started circulating on social media recently, drawing strong reactions from fans.

Many cricket lovers felt the statue did not resemble Akram at all. Some compared it to poorly made wax figures, while others jokingly called it fan art gone wrong.

One user even joked that the statue looked like “Wasim Akram before he made it to the national team,” while another called it the “Temu version” of the legendary bowler.

Despite the criticism, Akram’s graceful and humorous response has won over fans.

Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has endorsed former captain Younis Khan as a strong candidate for the role of head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball Test cricket team.

Speaking at a ceremony in Karachi, Akram shared his thoughts on the national team’s coaching setup and emphasised Younis Khan’s importance in red-ball cricket. “Younis Khan can be a good option as a batting coach for red-ball cricket,” he said. “Younis is very special for Pakistan cricket. I don’t know what the issue is between the PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] and Younis Khan.”

“The new coach can help change the mindset of the younger players. We need to stop expecting instant results; our players have to become mentally and physically strong,” he added.

Wasim Akram urged fans to be patient with the new coaching setup. “We rush for results too quickly. A new coach needs time to settle in and deliver,” he emphasised.

The former left-arm fast bowler also expressed concern over Pakistan’s declining performance in the longest format. “Pakistan has fallen far behind in red-ball cricket,” he noted.

Akram said the decision on the Pakistan-India cricket rivalry lies beyond the cricket boards. “We all want to see Pakistan and India play cricket,” he stated. “But the decision on this must be made by both governments. I can’t comment much on the issue.”

While reviewing the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, Akram praised the emergence of young talent, naming Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, and Salman Mirza among those who impressed. “These young players showcased their potential,” he said.

Akram also applauded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and supporting departments for successfully organising the league despite delays. “Even though many technical staff, including DRS officials, couldn’t return, the way the PCB handled things was commendable,” he said.

Regarding the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, Akram played down concerns over the possible absence of big names. “If Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, or Shaheen Afridi miss a couple of matches, it’s not a big issue,” he said. “They still have a lot of cricket left in them, but the new players in the squad need proper mental grooming.”

Recently, Aqib Javed was appointed as the Director of High Performance, while former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson took charge as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach.

Hesson’s first task will be leading the national team in a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place at home from May 28 to June 1.

The Bangladesh squad, captained by Litton Das, has already arrived in Pakistan and is set to begin training tonight ahead of the much-anticipated series.

Meanwhile, the Men in Green will wrap up their white-ball commitments before turning their focus to the red-ball format as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

After the 2025 Asia Cup in September, Pakistan is expected to host South Africa in October for a two-match Test series, along with three ODIs and three T20Is.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram is facing strong criticism from the public and former cricketers for expressing solidarity with the armed forces only after tensions between Pakistan and India began to ease.

Akram had posted on X (formerly Twitter): “We all stand with our armed forces. They have responded to the enemy’s aggression,” adding that “dialogue is the way forward and peace is what we all want. Pakistan Zindabad.”

However, many fans and ex-players felt his message came too late. One of the strongest reactions came from former Test cricketer Basit Ali, who remarked: “Remaining silent during critical moments and then making a statement once things return to normal, how is that bravery? Cricketers should raise their voice when the nation is going through difficult times, not afterwards!”

Social media users also joined in, questioning why Akram remained silent during the height of the escalation and only spoke up after the situation had begun to stabilise.

Meanwhile, with a ceasefire now in place, there is growing optimism that Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 could soon resume. Foreign players remain stationed in Dubai, while local players have been advised to stay prepared as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans the next steps.

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Wasim Akram has opened up about why he declined a job offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

During an online press conference in Melbourne, he said, ” I received a job offer, but I’m not someone who can work a 9 to 5 job.”

Talking about the Champions Trophy 2025, he said, “Positive signals are coming from India regarding the Champions Trophy. The PCB has made several offers to the Indian Board, and India should come to Pakistan.”

Akram highlighted the massive fan following that Indian players have in Pakistan, saying, “Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav have many fans here. Fans are eagerly waiting for them. People from both countries should interact more, and India should consider this.”

On his personal experiences, he mentioned, “I haven’t been to India for six or seven years, and I miss the food and people there. Indian players would enjoy coming to Pakistan.”

Discussing the upcoming series in Australia, Akram noted, “Conditions in Australia are tough, and it won’t be easy for Pakistan. Winning even one ODI would be a significant achievement, and the T20 series should be good.”

Akram praised Fakhar Zaman, stating, “Fakhar Zaman is an impact player. I’m sure Fakhar didn’t write the social media statement himself. Whoever wrote it should have informed him about the potential issues related to the central contract. This is a lesson for Fakhar to be more mindful of his social media posts, and the PCB was right to be upset about the matter.”
The former national team captain also praised Mohsin Naqvi, saying, “Mohsin Naqvi is doing excellent work for cricket and can run the cricket board professionally.”

In response to a question about Rizwan’s captaincy, Akram said, “Mohammad Rizwan has captaincy experience and is a good choice. He should focus on his game.”

Regarding criticism of creating pitches for home advantage, Akram remarked, “We don’t need enemies when we have enough critics within. Criticism of home advantage is incomprehensible. I’ve been advocating for turning pitches for the past 5-6 years, even if it means losing. I’m glad that someone finally considered this, and after losing three consecutive Test matches, we won two consecutive Tests.”

Expressing his happiness about the future of Pakistani cricket, Akram added, “I’m pleased that young players are being given opportunities to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Players like Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah should focus on their game, leave social media, go home after playing cricket, and enjoy. Babar Azam should also forget about captaincy, play cricket, and score runs.”

Pakistan will be hosting the Champions Trophy next year in February and March.