Srinagar, Aug 9: Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram has lashed out at Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali for his captaincy during Pakistan’s shock defeat against England in first Test at Manchester on Friday.
After being reduced to 117/5 in chase of 277 run target England fought back in style to clinch a stunning win in Manchester, led by a brilliant 139-run stand between Jos Buttler (75) and Chris Woakes (84no) which took the game away from the visitors.
Speaking about the defeat, Wasim Akram said it would hurt the team as well as the fans and criticised Azhar, saying that the skipper missed a trick a number of times in the Test. The former Pakistan great was also critical of the team’s plans for Woakes when the England allrounder came out to bat.
“It will hurt,” Wasim Akram said on Pakistan’s defeat. It will hurt the Pakistan team and the cricket lovers in Pakistan, ” Akram was quoted by Cricket Addictor.
“Winning and losing is part of cricket, but I think our captain missed a trick quite a few times in this game, as far as his leadership is concerned, ” He was further quoted as saying.
“When Woakes came in, there were no bouncers, no short deliveries, they let him settle down and runs were coming easy. Once the partnership got going, nothing happened – the turn didn’t happen, swing didn’t happen – and Buttler and Woakes just took the game away,” he added.