Wasim Akram cited the example of fellow pace legend and long-time teammate Waqar Younis and how he was treated during his stints as head coach. Former India cricketer Yograj Singh had recently criticised Akram and Shoaib Akhtar for blasting the current team without taking up constructive steps.
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Wasim Akram has defended his harsh criticism of the current Pakistan team led by Mohammad Rizwan and for refusing to take up a coaching role with the side, citing the example of fellow pace legend and long-time teammate Waqar Younis and the manner in which he was treated as an example.
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Former India cricketer Yograj Singh had recently criticised Akram as well as Shoaib Akhtar – another iconic pacer – for tearing into the Pakistan team following their recent defeats against New Zealand and India and their subsequent first-round exit from then Champions Trophy.
Yograj, father of iconic Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, advised both Akram and Akhtar to either organise a coaching camp for the players and help the team win a World Cup in the future, while adding that he was willing to take up the responsibility himself.
Wasim cites Waqar’s example while explaining how Pakistan coaches are treated
Akram, who collected 916 wickets in an international career spanning nearly two decades, responded to the comments – without mentioning Yograj directly – by explaining how Waqar had been “disrespected” during his various stints as coach.
“People still on and off either criticize me or have a go at me that all he does is talk and nothing else. When I see Pakistan coaches – I see Waqar here, who has been sacked quite a few times after becoming a coach – and their condition. You guys disrespect them, I cannot tolerate it,” Akram said on the DP World Dressing Room show on Ten Sports.
Waqar had initially served as bowling coach of the Pakistan team shortly after his retirement in 2006, and later served as head coach in two different stints – between 2010 and 2011 and later between 2014 and 2016. The former right-arm pacer and captain’s stints as head coach, however, did not end on a good note on either occasion.
‘I am not going to take such insults’
Akram added that he was willing to help Pakistan cricket, but wasn’t going to tolerate the kind of insults that Waqar allegedly had to put up with.
“I want to help Pakistan cricket. Why do you want to pay me. I am available free of cost. If you organise a camp and want me to be there, I will. If you want me to spend time with cricketers ahead of a big tournament, I will do that.
“But I am 58 years old and at this age, I am not going to take such insults which you guys do. I cannot led a stressful life at this age,” Akram added on the show.
Pakistan had appointed former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie and ex-South African opener Gary Kirsten as red-ball and white-ball head coach respectively last year. Neither lasted a year in the job though, with Kirsten putting in his papers after just six months in October and Gillespie following suit in December.
Former pacer Aaqib Javed, who is also part of the PCB’s selection committee, later took over as head coach – albeit on an interim basis – across formats.