'Issues are a lot deeper' - Wasim Akram on the state of Pakistan Cricket

Wasim Akram has said he is unable to help Pakistan cricket because the problems facing the team are too deep and systemic to be addressed by any single individual. The former Pakistan captain pointed to failures across batting, bowling, fielding and the first-class domestic structure as the root causes of the team's decline.

Speaking candidly ahead of the third Test against England at Edgbaston, which will begin on Wednesday, September 9, Akram made clear that responsibility for the team's decline is shared across multiple stakeholders rather than resting with any one person or group.

"I get asked all the time, 'Can you do something to help Pakistan cricket?' But the issues are a lot deeper. These are the top players, there's nothing else there. The systems aren't there below that. The first-class structure domestically has been all over the place the last few years and there's no consistency, no patience. But in Pakistan we have a saying: 'You can only clap with two hands'," Akram said, speaking to The Athletic.

What did Akram say about Pakistan's performance against England?

Akram had anticipated Pakistan's difficulties against England well before the series began, stating that the team's shortcomings across all three departments of the game were plain to see and that the outcome was not a surprise to him. His assessment was rooted in a frank reading of where Pakistan stood in terms of playing resources and overall quality heading into the tour.

"I knew before the series we were going to lose 3-0 to England," a prediction that reflected his view of the gulf between the two sides. Akram was equally direct about the team's on-field failings, stating, "Our batting is struggling, our bowling is below average and our fielding is worse. It's not rocket science," he said.

The third Test at Edgbaston saw Pakistan field multiple debutants, a development that underlined the squad depth concerns Akram had highlighted and pointed to the limited pool of experienced players available to the national side at this level.

What systemic issues did Akram identify in Pakistan cricket?

Beyond the immediate series result, Akram identified structural problems within Pakistan's domestic cricket setup as a core reason for the team's struggles at the international level. He pointed specifically to a lack of consistency and patience in the first-class domestic structure over recent years, arguing that instability at that level has a direct and visible effect on the quality of players emerging into the national side.

Akram noted that the consequences of this domestic instability are evident in the team's batting, bowling and fielding at the highest level, and that the problems extend beyond the playing group alone. He acknowledged that fan mentality is also shaped by the same systemic failures, suggesting the damage runs through the entire ecosystem of Pakistan cricket rather than being confined to the dressing room or the selection table.