We have already come across many incidents of former Pakistani players accusing their ex-teammates. Now, we have come across another such incident on Tuesday. Former Pakistan opener Aamer Sohail has named Wasim Akram as the cause of Pakistan not winning the World Cup after 1992. This is something ironic, as Akram is one of the most decorated Pakistani cricketers.
Sohail said that just a year before the 1996 Cricket World Cup, PCB made Rameez Raza as the Pakistan Team captain. Saleem Malik was the Pakistan captain before him. He had a successful tenure as well. Sohail feels that if he had continued, Wasim Akram would not have been the captain. However, Akram captained the Pakistan team in the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
“It is very simple. Put the 92 World Cup to one side and talk about the 1996 World Cup. In 1995, Ramiz Raja was captain. Saleem Malik was the captain before that, he was very successful and if he could have spent one more year as captain then Wasim Akram would not have been leading the side,” Sohail said as per reports in Cricket Pakistan.
Sohail even said that there was a desperate attempt to dismiss the captain. It was all done in a bid to make Wasim Akram the skipper before every World Cup. Wasim even captained the Pakistan Team in the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. Australia defeated Pakistan in the finals and Pakistan ended up as the runners up.
“If you look at what happened till 2003, there was this persistence before every World Cup to remove the captain and put Wasim Akram in that role,” Sohail claimed.
Aamer Sohail said that Wasim Akram’s biggest contribution for Pakistan Cricket was Pakistan not winning the World Cup after 1992
Aamer Sohail even claimed that Wasim Akram’s biggest contribution for Pakistan Cricket was Pakistan not winning the World Cup after 1992. He feels that the Men In Green would have been world Champions in 1996,1999, and 2003 if Wasim Akram was sincere with the team.
“Look, the biggest contribution by Wasim Akram for Pakistan cricket was making sure Pakistan does not win a World Cup after 92. Imran Khan should be very grateful to him and he is by awarding him the presidential award. If he [Akram] was sincere with Pakistan, we would have easily won the 96, 99 and 2003 World Cups”, Sohail said.
Moreover, he even went on to add that there was a certain reason behind this drama. So, there should be a proper investigation on it. “All of this drama happened for a reason. This should be investigated. The culprit behind all this should be brought to the forefront,” Aamer signed off.
Aamer Sohail scored 2823 runs in 47 Tests. Sohail played in the era between 1990 and 2000. He scored 4780 runs in the 156 ODI’s he played. However, this might be a shocking revelation made by him now. Hopefully, the truth can be uncovered in the days to come.
Not many cricketers tend to open up like this. The remark can have huge implications in the long-run. Let’s wait and watch.
