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In the wake of Pakistan’s humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi, former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has publicly criticized the team’s performance and management. This historic loss marks Bangladesh’s first victory over Pakistan in Test cricket, a result that has left many former players and fans in shock.
Kamran Akmal slams Pakistan cricket team
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Akmal did not hold back, expressing his disappointment with the players’ lack of learning from past mistakes. He highlighted that had Mohammad Rizwan not scored a half-century, Pakistan could have faced an innings defeat.
“Ye to Rizwan ne 50 kiya aur scoreboard chalaya warna innings se haarte. Ye itni buri haar hai ki bhooli nahi jaegi. Aap kisi ka bura sochoge to aapke saath bhi bura hi hoga. (Had Rizwan not scored a 50 and ran the scoreboard, you’ve would’ve lost by an innings).
“Aapne pichle 5 saalon se kuch nahi seekha. Aap Zimbabwe se haar gaye. Pichle saal aap Asia Cup se baahar ho gaye th. Abhi aap itna zaleel hue hain world cup me, Pakistan cricket ka mazaak ban chuka hai globally.” (You haven’t learned anything in the last 5 years. You lost to Zimbabwe. Last year, you were eliminated from Asia Cup. You were humiliated at the T20 World Cup. Made a complete mockery of Pakistan cricket).
“It was a difficult time for Bangladesh but their batters scored runs”: Akmal
Akmal praised the Bangladesh team for their resilience, particularly noting Mushfiqur Rahim’s outstanding innings of 191 runs, which played a crucial role in setting up the victory. He emphasized that Bangladesh’s batters capitalized on their opportunities, while Pakistan’s players appeared to lack seriousness and commitment.
“It was a difficult time for Bangladesh but their batters scored runs. They had to save the Test, and they not only did that but also won the game. They basically exposed Pakistan cricket. And our players were batting like club cricketers. Sorry, not even club cricketers play like this. The approach was poor. Players are having a laugh in the dressing room, there is no seriousness because they know nobody will ask anything. It seems that you are playing for fun,” Akmal added.
Also READ: PAK vs BAN – Netizens go wild over Bangladesh’s historic Test triumph against Pakistan
The defeat has sparked widespread criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team’s management, with other former cricketers like Shahid Afridi and Ahmad Shahzad also voicing their frustrations.
A 10-wicket defeat raises serious questions about the decision to prepare this type of pitch, select four fast bowlers and leave out a specialist spinner. This to me clearly shows a lack of awareness about home conditions. That said, you cannot take the credit away from…
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 25, 2024
پاکستان ٹیم کا تاریخی زوال شروع ہو چکا ہے۔ قوم کے ساتھ بار بار جھوٹ بولا گیا اور آج بنگلہ دیش سے تاریخی ذلّت آمیز شکست کے بعد پھر سے گھناؤنا مذاق کیا گیا۔ قوم اب کس سے جواب طلب کرے اور کس کا گلا پکڑے؟ ان سب حالات کا اصل ذمےدار کون؟؟#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/AdXZhy3z7n
— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 25, 2024
As Pakistan prepares for the second Test, scheduled to begin on August 30, there is a pressing need for the team to regroup and address the issues that have led to this disappointing performance.