'Have we produced a batter like Sooryavanshi?': Akram on Pakistan's batting crisis

Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has voiced his concerns over the country's persistent issues in Test cricket, specifically highlighting the lack of promising young batting talent. Speaking in Lahore, Akram questioned whether the Pakistan Super League (PSL), now running for a decade, has generated any significant batting talent for the national team.Within the past 10 years, he noted, have we produced any noteworthy batting talent? he asked.

In reference to India, Akram pointed to a 15-year-old player, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as evidence of the kind of batting potential Pakistan should be nurturing.Akram acknowledged that Pakistan remains competitive in limited-overs cricket but expressed growing pessimism about their prospects in Test matches, describing the situation as 'bad'.

He also downplayed the impact of coach appointments, stating that the fundamental challenge remains unchanged as long as the PCB continues to work with the same group of players. He called for patience and long-term planning, suggesting that the domestic structure should be given a chance to produce results over a period of three to four years.Ensuring proper club cricket infrastructure was crucial, Akram argued, emphasizing that talent arises from club cricket.

He urged the PCB to allocate 100 million rupees each for Karachi and Lahore to stimulate this development.The former pacer also criticized the team's mindset in England, noting that they failed to adapt their approach against fast bowlers like Ollie Robinson. He stressed the importance of courage and initiative, suggesting that tapping into the potential of emerging fast bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Akif Javed required patience and consistent opportunities.Overall, Akram called for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of Pakistan's batting woes, advocating for sustained efforts in club cricket and a more measured approach to player development.