Bowling Avg 100, Batting 9": Wasim Akram Critiques Pakistan's Champions Trophy Squad
February 3, 2025: Cricket legend Wasim Akram has expressed his concerns regarding Pakistan’s squad selection for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. While Pakistan, the tournament hosts, are viewed as strong contenders, Akram took issue with certain selections, particularly that of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. He pointed to Ashraf’s poor recent form, with a bowling average of 100 and a batting average of 9 in the last 20 matches, as evidence of a questionable decision.
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“The team that has been announced, I haven’t seen it properly yet. But Faheem Ashraf is in the team. I wish him all the best—he’s talented. However, his recent stats are worrying,” Akram said during an interview with Sports Yaari. He added, “India has chosen 3-4 spinners for their squad for a reason, yet we have only one specialist spinner.”
While critical of some choices, Akram was pleased to see Fakhar Zaman’s return to the squad despite the opener’s inconsistent recent form. “Fakhar is one of the main players in white-ball cricket. Thank God he is back in the squad. Now, I would like to see Babar Azam open the innings and Rizwan move to the middle order.”
Akram also praised Pakistan’s pace unit, highlighting Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Hasnain as key players for the tournament. However, he lamented the absence of Aamer Jamal, a player he believes would have been a better long-term investment for the all-rounder’s spot.
As hosts, Akram believes the pressure will be high on Pakistan to perform. He expressed hope for their semi-final qualification, particularly with marquee matches such as the India-Pakistan clash set to take place in Dubai. “My gut feeling is that Pakistan must reach the semi-finals. Once there, anything can happen,” Akram concluded.
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