Shoaib Akhtar fuming after the loss against West Indies and blames captain Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq in hot water after the humiliating loss against West Indies

Shoaib Akhtar who was a fast bowler in the Pakistani national team, was left fuming after the performance of the Pakistani team against West Indies in the World Cup, and holds the captain Misbah-ul-Haq responsible and feels he is “selfish and a coward”.

The Pakistani team was defeated by 150 runs against the Windies. The Pakistan cricket community amongst several critics are displeased at the turn Pakistan cricket team is taking with the exception of Javed Miandad who still believes that the underachieving team has a chance this world cup.

There is a mixed reaction in the former players mind regarding the action to be taken against the cricket board. They either want the chief selector Moin Khan and head coach Waqar Younis to be sacked, or a they want the entire Pakistani cricket board to be reshuffled.

Akhtar feels Misbah is not the man to lead Pakistan

Akhtar was heard talking to Geo News channel and he said, “I have been saying this for a long time we are heading for disaster. I have never seen a more selfish and coward captain like Misbah.

“When he knows the chips are down and the team needs an inspirational leader, why couldn’t he (Misbah) come up the order and also protect Younis (Khan) and others by batting at number three.

“Misbah has always been a selfish player and he is satisfied with his own runs but the team comes second,” he continued

Akhtar who seems fed up of the below par performance of the Pakistani team, has pleaded the Cricket Board to not take the issue lightly anymore and reshuffle the team after the World Cup.

“The whole nation feels let down and is understandably angry. You don’t expect such unprofessional decisions from a professional management,” he said.

Mohammad Yousuf perplexed by the dropping of Yasir

Former Test captain and batsman of the Pakistani team Mohammad Yousuf said he was not able to understand the decision of not playing leg spinner Yasir Shah against the West Indies.

“It made no sense to me at all knowing we are not good at chasing any total. And I think it is time Younis also decided about his future and withdraw himself,” Yousuf said.

Yousuf felt that the problem with the team was not new and was as a problem of negligence from the coaching side not giving importance on the batsman’s technique.

“They just don’t have the technique to play on such wickets. And to add to the problems the selections made are mind boggling. How can they drop Sarfaraz Ahmed or Yasir Shah?”

Yasir can handle high-pressure situations: Iqbal Qasim

Yousuf was not the only person who felt dropping Yasir Shah was a mistake. Former Test bowler Iqbal Qasim concurred as well.

“He played his first match against India in front of a big crowd and in high-pressure match and that was his test. He was now ready to be tested out against other teams and I am sure he would have done well. You can’t play with just four proper bowlers in ODIs nowadays, especially in absence of good allrounders,” said Qasim.

Rashid Latif, the former Test captain, was amongst some of the people that had the same opinion as Akhtar.

“It remained a slow pitch against the West Indies and yet the two best bowlers, Sohail Khan and Wahab Riaz were made to bowl into the wind. Not playing Yasir and persisting with Younis up the order and playing Nasir Jamshed were blunders,” he said.

Miandad, who was the only person that felt the Pakistan team had what it took to make a comeback, said all they would require is one good game to get back on track.

“I think this Pakistan team needs to get its combination right and just one good win to find its momentum in the World Cup,” Miandad said.