Shoaib Akhtar: I fear that Pakistan might crash out in the first round of the T20 World Cup

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has criticized head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and the team management after the Babar Azam-led side crushed to a series defeat against England and Akhtar wants the management to solve the issues, especially the middle-order.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has criticized head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and the team management after the Babar Azam-led side crushed to a series defeat against England. 

With the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia, starting later this month, Akhtar wants the management to solve the issues, especially the middle order. 

Having led the series 3-2 at one point, Pakistan lost the last two T20Is in Lahore after a poor show with the bat and conceded the series 3-4.

Akhtar expressed that Pakistan is too dependent on their top-order, especially Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and that if the issues are not addressed before the start of the World Cup, the team might crash out of the mega event in the first round (group stage).

“Pakistan middle order is not good. Plus, Pakistan’s openers if they don’t perform, the middle order crumbles. This is not the way to go into a world cup if you want to win the world cup. I fear that Pakistan might crash out in the first round of the T20 World Cup. That’s why I had criticized Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan’s head coach) and others to get your middle order and batting order in order,”

Akhtar said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

“Somehow, they are not listening. It’s very sad to see that Pakistan is not doing well. It’s disheartening. Pakistan is in a dire situation. It’s not going to be easy for the management from here. Hopefully, they learn a thing or two starts watching my videos (smiles), and improve,”

he added.

Pakistan will face India in its opening game of the T20 World Cup on October 23.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh. 

Standby Players: Mohammad Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.

Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir. 

Standby Players: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani.