The way Pakistan played, it didn't feel as if Sri Lanka ever left England: Kamran Akmal

Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal is extremely disappointed after a visiting Pakistan team suffered a crushing defeat in the first ODI at Cardiff against a depleted and inexperienced England side. Batting first, Pakistan were rocked early as they lost both their openers within the first three balls of the game and never quite recovered from the setback.

Having posted a paltry 141 on board in 35.2 overs, their bowlers were not able to trouble the opponents much as England romped home in under 22 overs with nine wickets left and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Notably, three players testing Covid-19 positive in the host camp before the start of the series meant they had to announce a new 18-man squad, and in Cardiff, the England eleven had as many as five debutants. Going down against such an inexperienced side so convincingly left Akmal disappointed as he appreciated England’s effort and criticized the visitors harshly.

Wins and losses are part and parcel but character needs to be shown: Kamran Akmal

“I don’t understand which way our performance is heading. It should get better by the day but Pakistan had a fully confident team who had played PSL, beaten South Africa. Wins and losses are part and parcel but character needs to be shown now. Neither our cricket nor our selection process is right,” Kamran Akmal, who has represented Pakistan in 52 Tests, 157 ODIs and 28 T20Is, said on his YouTube channel.

England recently steamrolled Sri Lanka in both T20Is (3-0) and ODIs (2-0), with the visitors unable to put up even a mild fight. Comparing Pakistan with them, Akmal went on to reckon that he felt as if Sri Lanka never left England. “The way Pakistan played cricket, it didn’t feel as if Sri Lanka had left England. It felt as if England was playing against Sri Lanka itself. England did something that Pakistan should have done, bowling the opposition out for 141. Ben Stokes’ captaincy was outstanding,” Akmal stated.

The two teams will next meet at Lord’s on July 10, followed by the final ODI on July 13 in Birmingham. A three-match T20I series will follow the ODIs.