Former Pakistan Teammates Criticize Akram’s Decision to Bat First in World Cup Final
March 15, 2025: Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has found himself at the center of controversy again, as an old video of his former teammates Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed resurfaced, slamming his leadership during the 1999 Cricket World Cup final against Australia.
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What Happened in the 1999 World Cup Final?
Pakistan, led by Wasim Akram, had an outstanding campaign leading up to the final. However, their title hopes crumbled when they were bowled out for just 132 runs against Australia at Lord’s. The Aussies, led by Steve Waugh, chased down the target with ease to lift the trophy.
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One of the biggest talking points from that final was Akram’s controversial decision to bat first after winning the toss, despite rainy conditions that favored bowling.
Ijaz Ahmed’s Criticism
Former Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmed, in a resurfaced clip, claimed he had warned Akram about the rain but his advice was ignored.
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“When we won the toss, it was like we had already won the final. But what Wasim Akram did that day, even a street cricketer wouldn’t have made that mistake. I told him the night before, seeing the heavy rain, not to bat first. If he was under pressure, he should have called for a team meeting in the morning. But there was no meeting.”
“Wasim Akram made wrong call on toss in 1999 final that too without any team meeting. Imran told me on toss Pakistan has lost.” 👀🤯
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) March 13, 2025
Ejaz Ahmed on 1999 final debacle ⤵️
pic.twitter.com/ltHaulGpJs
Ijaz further revealed that Imran Khan had predicted Pakistan’s loss even before the match started.
“When I saw Imran Khan before the toss, I greeted him. That’s when Wasim won the toss and said it was a team decision to bat first. As I was leaving, Imran Bhai called me back and said: ‘You guys have already lost the match.’”
Aamer Sohail’s Explosive Comments
Former opener Aamer Sohail, who captained Pakistan briefly before Akram, went a step further and accused Akram of harming Pakistan’s World Cup chances across multiple tournaments.
“Wasim Akram’s biggest contribution to Pakistan cricket is that he made sure we didn’t win a World Cup after 1992. Imran Khan should be grateful to him, and he even awarded him with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2019.”
Real reason behind 1999 WC final loss
— صالح (@iisaleh97) March 13, 2025
👇 https://t.co/N5Olkdehdl pic.twitter.com/A3asf8Aj63
Sohail further claimed:
“We could have easily won the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups. You must investigate to find out who is responsible.”
Why Is This Controversy Resurfacing Now?
- Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 has led to questions about past failures.
- The 1990s era of Pakistan cricket has been under scrutiny for internal conflicts and missed opportunities.
- Old rivalries within the ex-Pakistan squad continue to stir debates about team politics and leadership failures.
Wasim Akram’s Response?
As of now, Wasim Akram has not responded to these fresh accusations, but in the past, he has defended his decision to bat first in the 1999 final, arguing that it was a collective team decision.
With this debate reignited, do you think Wasim Akram made the wrong call? Or was it simply a bad day for Pakistan cricket?
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