Birmingham, September 9, 2026: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said the problems facing Pakistan cricket are too deep and systemic for any single individual to resolve, pointing to weaknesses across batting, bowling and fielding as well as instability in the domestic first-class structure.
Speaking ahead of the third Test against England at Edgbaston, Akram said responsibility for Pakistan’s decline rested with multiple stakeholders rather than one individual or group.
“I get asked all the time, ‘Can you do something to help Pakistan cricket?’ But the issues are a lot deeper. These are the top players, there’s nothing else there. The systems aren’t there below that,” Akram told The Athletic.
“The first-class structure domestically has been all over the place the last few years and there’s no consistency, no patience. But in Pakistan we have a saying: ‘You can only clap with two hands’,” he added.
Akram said he had expected Pakistan to struggle against England even before the series began, citing deficiencies in all three departments.
“I knew before the series we were going to lose 3-0 to England,” he said, reflecting his assessment of the gulf between the two sides.
The former fast bowler was particularly critical of Pakistan’s overall balance.
“Our batting is struggling, our bowling is below average and our fielding is worse. It’s not rocket science,” he said.
Pakistan’s decision to field multiple debutants in the third Test further highlighted concerns over squad depth and the limited pool of experienced players available at the highest level.
Akram identified instability in domestic cricket as one of the fundamental reasons for Pakistan’s international struggles, criticising the lack of consistency and patience in the first-class structure in recent years.
He said instability at the domestic level had directly affected the quality of players emerging into the national side, with the consequences now visible in Pakistan’s batting, bowling and fielding.
According to Akram, the problems extend beyond players, coaches and selectors and have become embedded across the wider cricketing system.
He also suggested that the systemic issues had affected the mentality of fans, arguing that Pakistan cricket’s challenges were not confined to the dressing room or selection process but involved the entire cricket ecosystem.
