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'Forget About Reading The Delivery...,' Wasim Akram Slams Pakistan Batters

image-lnrj4336Kuldeep Yadav celebrates a Pakistan wicket at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Pakistan squandered away their sublime start with the bat against India at the 2023 World Cup, as their final eight wickets managed to add just 36 runs in the high-profile game. Comfortably placed at 155-2, Babar Azam’s dismissal at 50 led to a series of wickets, with five of the six frontline Indian bowlers reaping off Pakistan’s colossal backend downfall.

While ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah walked away with a ‘Player of the Match’ award, enigma machine Kuldeep Yadav inflicted just as much damage with the ball. The 28-year-old accounted for the wickets of dangermen Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed, both in the space of an over, to worsen Pakistan’s troubles at 166-5, and eventually finished with impressive figures of 2-35 from his 10 overs.

Speaking on the backdrop of the one-sided affair, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has lambasted the current team management following their humiliating defeat, and also criticised them for not heeding his Kuldeep Yadav warning.

Wasim Akram tears through Pakistan think-tank

After Pakistan’s huge defeat in Ahmedabad, legendary speedster Wasim Akram claimed that he had warned the team management beforehand to prepare themselves for tackling old nemeses Kuldeep Yadav. The cricket expert further added criticized the think-tank for not following his advice.

Akram emphasized the importance of preparing against Kuldeep Yadav owing to his match-winning five-fer in last month’s 2023 Asia Cup in Colombo. While speaking with A-Sports, the former cricketer said:

“Since the Asia Cup, I said that Kuldeep would trouble Pakistan’s middle order, the think tank should’ve listened to me. At this level, they should pick the spinners. This year Kuldeep Yadav has taken seven wickets against Pakistan, the average is 8.57, economy rate is 3.33. It’s like he is playing against people who actually can’t see his bowling, forget about reading the delivery.”

Pakistan, jolted by the recent setback, will now aim to reboot their World Cup 2023 campaign with a match against Australia on October 20. The much-awaited contest is slated to be hosted by the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.