Players getting money, is good for cricket, believes former Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail

Pakistan cricket was marred with allegations of match-and-spot-fixing in the 90s, in an era where they were world beaters.

Former skipper Aamir Sohail, who retained his integrity despite swimming in troubled waters back in the day, believes that players earning money is good for the game, which will only help youngsters abstain from unethical practices. 

According to Daily Times, Sohail said, "It's good that players are getting good money nowadays. Temptations are there but of late, we haven't had any news of wrongdoing. So if things are under control and cricketers are getting legitimate money, I think that's very good for the game."

Contemporary players should be prepared for demands: Sohail

A veteran of 47 Tests and 156 One-Day Internationals (ODI), Sohail expressed that current players should not shy away from playing and be ready to perform.

"The contemporary cricketer, if he is aspiring to play top level of the game then he should be prepared for its demand. Your level of fitness and the hunger should match up to the level of playing for your country," explained the former World Cup-winning batter.

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Babar needs to live up to expectations: Sohail

The left-handed opener praised Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who has been their most consistent performer over the years.

"Babar has proved himself with his performance, now he has to live up to those expectations that he has set from his batting and keep on improving," he added.

Learning tricks with the old ball is the mantra for Pakistan to go ahead

Pakistan's bowling legacy has always been about reverse swing, an art that has diminished because of the Covid-19 rules, which prohibit the use of saliva.

Sohail urged the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Naseem Shah to understand how to put the old ball to good effect and improve the team further.

"There is definitely room for improvement in Test cricket. We used to rattle opposition batting with our reverse swing in the middle overs. They are good with the new ball, good in the middle overs if it's reversing, but when it's not reversing, then they haven't got anything new.

If our fast bowlers learn the art of working with the old ball then our team will go a long way with the kind of talent we have," he concluded.

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