'India have to think back' - Wasim Akram reflects on India's dismaying outing in T20 World Cup 2021

Team India had a dismaying outing in the T20 World Cup 2021. Pakistan’s former skipper Wasim Akram has thus put forward his thoughts on India’s outing in the mega event. He reckoned that the team should be allowed to play other leagues around the world to get the experience of different conditions.

India lost their opening fixture of the multination tournament against Pakistan. Shaheen Afridi wreaked havoc by removing India’s top order and helped his team register a historic victory. According to Akram, the Men in Blue weren’t able to recover and turn things around after the first match.

After facing a defeat against Pakistan, the team then lost to New Zealand. Though they won against the likes of Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland, it was not enough to book their seat for the semis. It was also the first time in eight years that India failed to make the knockouts of an ICC event.

Akram opened up on these aspects and stated that Indian players need to play in varied leagues across the world. He feels that playing in the IPL alone isn’t enough for the side and it is something India needs to put their thinking hats on for.

Have to allow the players at least one or two more leagues worldwide: Wasim Akram

“When you play leagues in different countries – one or two, I’m not saying play every league – at least your players get the experience to play against the other bowlers, different pitches, different teams, different conditions. So I think they (India) have to think back… IPL is the number 1 league, yes, money-wise, talent-wise but they have to allow the players at least one or two more leagues worldwide.

They were the favorites to win the World Cup. And I suppose after the first game… especially Shaheen Afridi’s first over, they never could recover. Then you see, there were a lot of talks about they concentrate on the IPL a lot more.

Their players don’t play against international players as much in the other league. And probably they were right at times because very few have faced – Pakistan and India have hardly played cricket – very few have faced Shaheen, Haris Rauf, or Hasan Ali,” Akram said in a video uploaded by Sport360.