Wasim Akram, the legendary fast bowler of Pakistan’s cricket team, has recently found himself at the center of controversy as former teammates and cricket experts question his decisions during critical moments of his career. Resurfacing old interviews from players Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed have stirred the pot, particularly regarding Akram’s decision-making during the 1999 World Cup final against Australia.
The crux of the criticism revolves around Akram’s call during the toss, where he chose to bat first, a decision many believed led to Pakistan’s eventual defeat. Ijaz Ahmed, speaking candidly about the incident, revealed that he had warned Akram the night before the final about the heavy rain and advised against batting first. He added that Akram should have called a team meeting to discuss the strategy, but no such meeting was held. He recalled how Imran Khan, after greeting him before the toss, predicted that Pakistan had already lost due to the wrong call.
Aamer Sohail did not mince words, claiming Akram’s leadership failures were a key factor in Pakistan’s inability to secure victories in the 1992, 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups. Sohail further criticized Akram for ensuring that Pakistan did not win another World Cup after 1992, despite having a team capable of doing so.
Sohail also highlighted the internal discussions before the 1999 World Cup, where the possibility of replacing the captain with Akram had been considered. His sharp words questioned Akram’s role in Pakistan’s World Cup failures, leaving fans and analysts to revisit these historic moments of the national team’s cricketing saga.
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