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