'Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf should...' - Wasim Akram blasts Pakistani pacers, asks them to play domestic matches

'Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf should...' - Wasim Akram blasts Pakistani pacers, asks them to play domestic matches (Image Source: Twitter)

Pakistan lost the ODI series against New Zealand although they won the first game of the three-match contest and it was their pace battery that took the hit in the last two contests. The Men in Green boast a fiery pace attack and it is their bowling that helped them reach the summit clash of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 which they lost to England. 

Former Pakistani great Wasim Akram, who took cognizance of the inexperienced pacers, said that it is high time for the players to take part in the domestic circuit before making a comeback in the international arena. Akram said that the likes of Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah need to go back to basics unless they want to bowl only four overs and bag huge money. 

The Babar Azam-led team have been struggling to get things back on track, given that they faced defeat in the T20I series against the Three Lions prior to the start of the multinational tournament, in the finals of the 20-20 World Cup and in the Test series post that as well. Much to the surprise of the Pakistani fans, they failed to win the Test series against the Kiwis and lost the ODI series as well. 

Apart from PSL, they must play 1-2 leagues in a year: Wasim Akram

Further, Akram highlighted the need for these players to take part in tournaments other than the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and added that they must look after the longer format games as well. The former Pakistani cricketer said that the fear of losing is causing concerns for the Babar-led team, who in turn end up losing more matches than usual. 

“If you get more money for playing only four overs, then this will be an easy decision. Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Wasim Jr. should play first-class cricket. Apart from PSL, they must play 1-2 leagues in a year, but also in long format matches. Pay attention; if we had time, we would have played 4-day matches,” Akram was quoted as saying to Cricket Pakistan. 

“If you had asked me, I would have told you that foreign coaches will not come; everyone is afraid that the contract will also end if the board changes. If you are not getting a foreign coach, get the services of a Pakistan, the reason for the decline in the performance graph of fast bowlers in T20 cricket," said the former Pakistani cricketer further. 

“The reason for this is the fear of losing. We have to lose and win, but we should not be afraid. I do not say that (prepare) Green Top pitches but must have a little bounce, batting for two days, should turn on the third and fourth day," he added.