‘It was embarrassing today’ - Wasim Akram lambasts Pakistan following shock defeat to Afghanistan

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan faced a shock defeat against Afghanistan in the 22nd match of the ODI World Cup 2023. Both sides faced each other at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday, October 23, and the result of the game had everyone in shock as Afghanistan registered a dominant win against the Men in Green.

As Afghanistan won the game by eight wickets, Pakistan dropped to fifth place in the standings, and after the loss, former pacer Wasim Akram came forward to lambast the side and question their fitness.

"It was embarrassing today. To reach 280-odd losing just two wickets is pretty big. Wet pitch or no, look at the fielding, the fitness levels," Akram told on a show for a Pakistani TV channel.

"We've been screaming for the last 3 weeks that these players haven't undergone a fitness test in the last two years. If I start taking individual names, their faces will drop. Looks like these guys are eating 8 kilos of mutton everyday. Should there not be tests?" he added.

Fielding is all about fitness and that's where we are lacking: Akram

Furthermore, Akram also called out Pakistan’s mediocre fielding against Afghanistan, which was a big reason why the side lost the game against the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side. 

Akram opined that since the players are playing for their country and are getting paid for it, there should be some criteria or a level to maintain. Taking the example of Misbah-ul-Haq as the coach, Akram stated that his tactics worked despite the players hating him. 

"Professionally you guys are getting paid, playing for your country. There has to be a certain criteria. Misbah, when he was coach, had that criteria. Players hated him but it worked. Fielding is all about fitness and that's where we are lacking, now we have reached that same position, where we will pray for ifs and buts to happen," Akram said.