CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has criticized the Pakistan and England boards for limiting the upcoming series to only two Tests. Despite England's victory in Pakistan last winter , Akram believes that his side merit a more extensive contest, especially considering the competitive feeling that has grown between the two sides.

The talismanic paceman said: "I don't know why we agreed to it or why the England and Wales Cricket Board offered it to us.

"Although England won in Pakistan, we won the last three series here and we have more supporters here than anybody else, so it would have been a full house for a five-Test series," he said in London shortly after the team landed on Wednesday on a two-month tour.

The five-Test Ashes series is just around the corner and Akram feels his side have been reduced to being warm-up fodder before the Australians. Akram's comments echo the doubts expressed by Pakistan legend Imran Khan, who recently told BBC Sport: "I don't know why Pakistan accepted the tour in the first half of the English season and for only two Tests."

Akram added: "It is not an insult, but it won't be any fun. The first game, you are just getting into it, the second Test you are just picking up and then there is no third match we will be on our way home. "That's what I think, that is what everybody else is thinking."

Recent reports might suggest that Akram's real concern is that two Tests will limit his chances of actually appearing during the series. Pakistan's captain, Waqar Younis recently told reporters: "Wasim is a great bowler whose achievements are outstanding, but at the moment, I cannot assure him a place in the first Test line-up."

Rumours in the Pakistan media reported that Younis opposed Akram's selection all week, delaying the announcement of the squad for more than five days. The relationship between the two became strained during the 1999 World Cup. On the subsequent tour to Australia then-captain Akram dropped Younis for the second Test, which Pakistan lost from a strong position.

Despite the speculation, Akram is fully expecting to feature against England. He said: "I am not here just to be a passenger, but whether I am picked or not, I am going to support the captain, on and off the field, and the main objective is to win.

"We have got to work hard to do well here. There is no problem between us we were just able to fly together for seven hours. But as for our relationship, everything is fine. I am reaching 35 next month and I feel I have another year or two in me. But even if I hadn't been picked I would still have come here."

Akram may be handed that chance by the shock absence of Shoaib Akhtar from the touring party. But even without the pace whizz kid, Akram is sure Pakistan's confidence has not been dented.

He added: "Shoaib is the fastest bowler in the world and Pakistan are lucky to have him in the side. "Hopefully he will join us next week, but that is just my opinion. But even without Shoaib, morale is high especially as we did well on our last tour in England." Akhtar did not travel because of a stomach problem.

© Dawn