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Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
Pakistan has been playing some exciting cricket over the last month or so. They qualified for the final of the 2022 Asia Cup. In the recently-concluded T20I series against England by 4-3. However, among the things which concern Pakistan's cricket, two of them are inconsistency and middle-order ahead of the 20-20 World Cup 2022. In both assignments, the Green Brigade has been found wanting in both departments.
Whenever, skipper Babar Azam and his opening partner, Mohammad Rizwan get dismissed early, the rest of the batting line-up crumbles. This issue has been concerning Pakistan fans and former cricketers. Meanwhile, former speedster, Shoaib Akhtar has also expressed his concern for his national side. He pointed out the aforementioned concerns of the team and said that this is not the way to go into a World Cup.
"Pakistan middle order is not good. Plus Pakistan’s openers if they don’t perform, middle order also cannot deliver. This is not the way to go into a World Cup if you want to win the world cup,” Akthar said on his YouTube channel. “As I have said in earlier instances also, I fear that this Pakistan team can go out of the world cup in the first round itself.”
Somehow, Pakistan team management is not listening to me: Shoaib Akhtar
The 'Rawalpindi Express' added that the middle-order batting issue is the reason he criticized head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and his team. The former went on to say that the national team coaches aren't listening to him. On the other hand, the 46-Test veteran hopes that his team does well in the World Cup.
“That’s why I had criticised head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and others to get your middle order and batting order in order. Somehow, they are not listening. Hopefully, Pakistan makes a good comeback in the World Cup…..It’s very sad to see Pakistan is not doing well. It’s disheartening. It do not like it when Pakistan loses. Pakistan is in a dire situation now. From here, things are not easy for Pakistan and team management.