Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has once again voiced his disappointment over the growing influence of politics in cricket. Speaking at the Cricket Impact Summit & Expo 2025 in Santa Clara, California, the “Sultan of Swing” made a heartfelt appeal for keeping the game pure and inclusive. “What I dislike about cricket is the involvement of politics,” Akram said. “Sports should always stay separate from politics. Teams should have the courage to pick players from any nation and think bigger, but sadly, that’s not happening.”

Akram, who represented Pakistan in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs, said the spirit of cricket is being diluted by off-field agendas. In an engaging conversation with former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, he emphasized that cricket should be a bridge between nations rather than a victim of their differences. “During my playing days in the ’80s and ’90s, the India-Pakistan rivalry was fierce, but we were friends off the field,” he recalled. “We shook hands, shared jokes, and respected each other, even when political tensions were high. Our job as players was to promote harmony. The people would follow our example.”

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🗣️ Wasim Akram: "What I don't like in cricket is politics, I'm sorry." ❌ pic.twitter.com/zY7fQGAz7H

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 2, 2025

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Akram urges unity and fair governance as cricket’s global reach widens

The former Pakistan captain expressed disappointment over the lack of bilateral series between India and Pakistan since 2012. While the teams have occasionally met in ICC tournaments, full-fledged series have been halted due to strained diplomatic relations. “I hope to see a Test series between India and Pakistan in my lifetime,” Akram said with optimism.

Beyond cross-border issues, Akram also criticized political interference within cricket boards. He has previously called out the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for inconsistent selections and leadership changes, arguing that frequent reshuffles harm team stability. “Decisions should be made on performance, not connections,” he remarked earlier this year.

As cricket expands into new regions such as the United States, Akram believes the game must uphold its core values of fairness, unity, and respect. “Cricket has the power to unite, not divide,” he concluded. “If we can keep politics out of it, the sport will only grow stronger.”

Pakistan were ahead during the second innings of the Asia Cup 2025 final against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Even after putting a low score on the board of just 146 runs in their allotted 20 overs of the first innings. They were able to pick three wickets in just four overs for 20 runs, which was a huge advantage. 

The expectation was high from their expressive fast bowler, Haris Rauf, who could have controlled the contest with his pace on a slow surface. But he wasn’t regular with his line and length and couldn’t hold the situation as India looked to get an advantage with the bat in the middle overs. And the former Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, bashed Rauf’s poor bowling.

See Also: Know what Indian players said after winning their ninth title of Asia Cup in 2025

“He is a run machine against India. I don't mean any disrespect, but he doesn’t play red ball cricket, and that is why he can’t improve. "His run-up is not the smoothest -- I was speaking to Waqar and he reiterated that not playing red ball cricket is the reason.” Akram expressed at the end of the clash.

Wasim Akram bashes Haris Rauf’s poor bowling during Asia Cup 2025 final

Rauf couldn’t follow the instructions from the captain and coach, and leaked runs to lose the momentum in the game. He gave away 50 runs in just 22 balls of the innings at an economy rate of 13.60, which never helped the pacer to show his dominance with the ball in the first innings.

“Don’t allow them to play league cricket. Any contracted player who wants a monthly salary needs to play a certain amount of FC cricket.” Akram expressed during the post-match analysis, when the former head coach of the Indian side, Ravi Shastri, also addressed the same issue.

Pakistan posted 146 runs in the first innings as Sahibzada Farhan celebrated a fine half-century before the Indian spinners went through the opponent’s batting line-up easily. India, despite the early thrill, managed to complete the chase by five wickets thanks to the unbeaten knock of 69 runs in 53 balls at a strike rate of 130.19 with the help of three boundaries and four sixes.

Cricket legend Wasim Akram openly criticized the Pakistan cricket team, while his former teammates Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik could not stop praising Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. Pakistan suffered another heavy defeat against India in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday.

After the handshake controversy in the group game, Pakistan was expected to put up a stronger fight. However, their resistance lasted only a short time before Suryakumar Yadav and his team secured their seventh straight win against their arch-rivals since 2022.

Asked to bat first in the Super 4 match, Pakistan scored only 171 runs, even with four catches dropped by India. The Dubai pitch was not as difficult as usual. Their top-scorer was Sahibzada Farhan, who made 58 runs and celebrated with a firing gun gesture, likely referring to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The target was too small for India, who won with seven balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill added 105 runs for the first wicket. Abhishek was the highest scorer with a blistering 74 off 39 balls, helping India win by six wickets.

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Wasim Akram Criticizes Pakistan

Disheartened by another heavy defeat, bowling great Wasim Akram could not hold back. He said it was “tough” to watch Pakistan being beaten by their rivals.

“I am going to speak my heart out. It is tough to watch Pakistan,” Akram said on Sony Sports. “As an ex-player, I understand winning and losing. But India has outplayed Pakistan in every department over the last four or five years. One or two catches can be dropped in any game, that is fine. But when we score 91 in the first 10 overs and fail to reach 200, there is nothing to say.”

Misbah and Malik Praise Abhishek and Gill

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq praised Abhishek for his skill and calmness.

“The skill level is exceptional, and the temperament is impressive. Playing against Pakistan for the first time, he looks relaxed, like batting in the nets. When the ball lands in his zone, he hits it effortlessly. He puts the main bowlers under pressure, and after that, the team can’t recover,” Misbah said on Tapmad’s show.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik praised Shubman Gill, who scored 47 off 28 balls. “I thought Shubman Gill would stay not out. Everything about him is high quality. He doesn’t play on just one side; he can play all around the field. When conditions changed after six overs, he started rotating the strike,” Malik said.

During the group-stage clash against India, Pakistan’s premier new-ball pacer, Shaheen Afridi, wasn’t able to earn success with the new ball inside the first six overs of the innings. The Blue Brigade’s left-handed opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, drilled the first ball for a four before hoisting the second successive ball for a fine over boundary.

The former World Cup winner of the Pakistan side, Wasim Akram, has urged the veteran pacer to learn from the full delivery that dismissed Shubman Gill cheaply. He wants Afridi to learn from the Oman pacer and execute the same plan in the Super 4 stage at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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“That’s what I want Shaheen Afridi to do early on, because the whole world now knows the plan against him. They say, ‘Okay, he’ll be bowling yorkers first up.’ So Afridi needs to have a Plan B. This is the length he should be bowling. I’m fine with one-off yorkers, but not two or three consecutive ones, because if he misses even one.” Akram expressed on Sony Sports.

Wasim Akram offers special message for Shaheen Afridi for IND vs PAK Super 4 encounter

Akram also requested the Pakistan batters to read the left-arm wrist spinner of the side, Kuldeep Yadav, from the hand which would be the only way of attacking the spinner. Most of their batters had no clue of the variations of the spinner, who ended with a fine figure of 3/18 in four overs at an economy rate of 4.50.

“It’s going for a boundary with only two fielders outside the circle. He ends up putting pressure on himself. I know he thinks he’s being attacking and going for wickets, but mixing it up with length balls is better. One yorker, yes, but not straightaway, and not every ball.” Wasim Akram addressed.

“It’s just the way he (Kuldeep) bowls. They can’t read him. In the pre-show, I was talking to Sunny bhai (Sunil Gavaskar), who was a great batter. He said, ‘unless and until you can read him from the hand, you won’t be able to understand that type of bowling’. So that’s what happened.” The former Pakistan captain concluded.

No Babar Azam, no Mohammad Rizwan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formed a new-look T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the tournament. Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram focused on the possibilities of the Salma Ali Agha-led team in the contest.

According to Akram, PCB made bold choices by excluding star players like Azam and Rizwan. Without these two batters, the Pakistan cricket team experienced ups and downs during their recent outings. But, before the tournament, they came out victorious in a T20I Tri-Nation series involving Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, which definitely provided them extra oxygen to breathe.

Akram opined that with a bunch of new talents, the mindset of the team has suddenly changed, which is necessary for a team which is going through a transitional phase. Acknowledging the efforts made by Babar and Rizwan for years, the Pakistan cricket legend feels that they did not meet the heights they could achieve. So, the team selectors made the correct choice to show trust in young stars. Despite criticisms, the former cricketer also said that Salman Ali Agha is a good captain to lead the team. 

Read More: 'Level is similar...'- Bangladesh Cricket Board president warns other teams participating in Asia Cup 2025

Wasim Akram hopeful about positive outcomes 

"I think this team is doing OK. They have given enough chances to Babar and Rizwan as openers for 4 or 5 years. They did well, but not as well, not as consistently, and hence the new boys, Wasim Akram said. 

"Babar is not there, Rizwan is not there. I think the idea was to move on from them, to go to these youngsters. They’ve done well; they haven’t been consistent, but at least they have the right mindset. They don’t have a fear of losing. When you have a fear of losing, you buckle under pressure. So these guys, they might lose, but I think Salman Agha is a good captain."

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2025:

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.

Cricket in the Indian subcontinent has always been known for producing world-class spinners, but over the years, some outstanding fast bowlers have also left their mark. Among them, Pakistan stood out during the 1990s for consistently developing legendary pacers.

Legends such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar became famous for their sheer pace and game-changing performances. Their ability to swing the ball at high speed made Pakistan’s bowling attack one of the most feared in world cricket. At the same time, India was seen as a batting powerhouse, heavily depending on its star-studded line-up to deliver victories.

Things began to change significantly in the mid-2010s when Virat Kohli took over as Indian captain. Under his leadership, special focus was placed on building a strong pace unit. That vision gave rise to exceptional fast bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, who turned India into a formidable bowling side.

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Wasim Akram vs Jasprit Bumrah- Who is Best? Pakistani Legend Shares His Thoughts:

Wasim Akram is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers Pakistan has ever produced, dominating world cricket during his era with unmatched skill and consistency. In today’s game, India’s Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as one of the finest all-format fast bowlers of his generation, often dismantling batting lineups with his pace, accuracy, and variations.

This rise has sparked ongoing debates on social media about whether Bumrah surpasses the legendary Akram. Fans and analysts frequently compare their impact across eras, fueling heated discussions. Recently, Wasim Akram himself addressed the question during an appearance on GEOTV’s ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ show, offering his perspective on the much-talked-about comparison between two of cricket’s most iconic fast bowlers.

Wasim Akram said, “ Jasprit Bumrah is a wonderful bowler. He has an odd action, has pace, and credit to the Indian cricket board for the way they manage him and their mindset. Comparisons between the 90s and now are impossible. He is right-handed and I am a left-armer.”

He further said, “ We keep social media debates—Begano ki Shadi Me Abdulla Diwana. Neither I care nor he cares. They are fighting among themselves. He is a modern-day great. I was in my era. I did my job. He is a very impressive bowler, I must say.”

Wasim Akram talking about Bumrah's greatness and the useless comparision b/w 2 great bowlers of different eras in his latest interview #Bumrah #WasimAkram #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/4lBJhlcVTN

— Cover Drive (@day6596) August 31, 2025

Wasim Akram Also Talks About Siraj’s Brilliance:

Recently, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in cricket history, praised Mohammed Siraj’s brilliant spell in England. He described the Indian pacer’s display as the best bowling performance he has witnessed in recent times, highlighting Siraj’s growing impact on the game.

He said, “ I rarely watch cricket when I'm not working, but I was glued to the last day. Siraj was full of hunger and passion – it was an incredible effort. To bowl nearly 186 overs across five Tests and still be that fiery on the final day shows remarkable stamina and mental strength.”

He added, “ He's not just a support bowler anymore. He's leading the attack and doing it with heart. Even when a catch went down– that of Brook – he didn't lose focus. That's the mark of a fighter. Test cricket is alive and kicking.”

The former Pakistani left-arm fast bowler and captain, Wasim Akram, has given his suggestion on whether India should lock horns with Pakistan during the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The most anticipated clash is expected to take place on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Although India is the official host of the competition, the entire event will occur at a neutral venue. The mutual agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made it clear that neither of these two sides will host each other apart from neutral grounds during events.

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“Asia Cup schedule is out; there is backlash. But we, in Pakistan, are calm. We will be fine whether we play or don’t play. The game must go on. I hope to see a Test series between India and Pakistan in my lifetime. Politics apart, I am not a politician.” Akram expressed during a recent podcast on Stick to Cricket.

Watch: Wasim Akram sends ‘show must go on’ message for India-Pakistan clash in Asia Cup 2025

The last encounter between these two teams came in the Champions Trophy 2025 at the same venue where the Blue Brigade got the better of the Pakistan side quite comfortably. In the last 20-over fixture between these two sides during the T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States of America and the West Indies.

Game must go on . Wasim Akram pic.twitter.com/LiqNrVDWLJ

— iffi Raza (@Rizzvi73) August 19, 2025

“They are patriotic about their country; we are patriotic about ours. Let’s not go below the belt. Talk about the triumphs of your country; the same goes for Pakistan, and the same goes for India. However, it’s easier said than done.” Akram addressed during the recent interaction on a cricket podcast.

The Asia Cup 2025 will happen across the two venues, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from September 09 to 28, featuring eight teams divided into two groups. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while on the other hand, Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram now strongly believes that Mohammed Siraj is not restricted only to being the support bowler for Jasprit Bumrah, as he has developed himself as the first choice of the team. The amount of hard work Siraj showed during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar trophy blew away many cricket experts' minds. 

Nowadays, when people talk about workload management issues, the Hyderabad-born fast bowler played back-to-back five Test matches without taking any break. In the series against England, the seamer delivered more than 185 overs, without any kind of rust, and emerged as the leading wicket taker of the series with 23 scalps. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been struggling with workload, dropped significant pace during the 5-match Test series, while Siraj constantly bowled around 140 kmph.

Akram heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj for his relentless performance and effective bowling, for which India managed to level the series by winning the match at The Oval. The former Pakistan international said that Siraj is now leading India's bowling attack with his remarkable strength and stamina. 

Read More: 'Improved by Miles...'- former India cricketer explains the rise of Mohammed Siraj

'Mark of a fighter'

"I rarely watch cricket when I'm not working, but I was glued to the last day. Mohammad Siraj was full of hunger & passion; it was an incredible effort. To bowl nearly 186 overs across 5 tests & still be that fiery on the final day shows remarkable stamina & mental strength. He's leading the Indian bowling attack. That's the mark of a fighter," Wasim Akram opined. 

The star fast bowler registered figures of 5/104 as England were bowled out for 367 runs while chasing a target of 374. During the closing moments of The Oval Test, on Day 5, eliminating any signs of tiredness, the right-handed pacer delivered over 140 cases. After delivering 30 overs, it is never an easy task for a pacer to produce a quick, accurate yorker. Siraj bowled out England's last hope, Gus Atkinson, with a perfect yorker.

India's pace-bowling superstar Jasprit Bumrah has conquered another prestigious milestone in his cricketing career. In the ongoing Headingly Test against England, Bumrah picked up three wickets, accounting for the dismissals of Crawley, Duckett, and Root to become the highest-wicket taker in SENA countries. The 31-year-old registered 148 wickets in SENA countries, surpassing the legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram. 

See also: WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah befool Zak Crawley and takes first wicket for India against England

Asian bowlers to take the most wickets in SENA countries

Surprisingly, four Indian bowlers find themselves in this elite list of wicket takers. Wasim Akram is the sole Pakistani bowler to feature in this list. Besides, there is no mention of any bowlers from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The figures indicate the legacy that has been left behind by the Indian bowlers and how much of a threat they can pose to the opposition despite being far away from home.

Speaking of the current state of the Headingly Test, India were dismantled cheaply on day two despite a rollicking start on the previous day. The visitors lost seven wickets for only 41 runs and were bundled out prematurely for 471. In response, the Indian bowlers, apart from Bumrah, bowled erratically and lacked penetration. Despite having a little bit of weather around, the Indian pace battery failed to cash in, allowing English batters to milk runs freely. 

Bumrah was the only standout bowler for India, accounting for all three English dismissals. The pacer stood tall as he always does amid dire circumstances, and single-handedly tried to take the attack to the English batters. It took him just six balls to dismiss Crawley early doors, which equaled his wickets tally with Akram. Moving on, he also broke a vital 122-run stand between Duckett and Pope by rattling the former's stumps, getting him past Akram's tally. And in the end, he concluded the day on a positive note for India by dismissing Root just at the stroke of stumps.

It's been Wednesday and the third day in the crossing of the mega clash which happened on Sunday in ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India beat Pakistan by six wickets where Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first with the quota of 50 overs they scored 241 runs being all out. India comfortably chased the target of 241 and Virat Kohli came with a bang scoring his 51 century and guiding India to victory. 

After the match, there was been lashing to the Pakistan team from their people deteriorating the lots of mistakes which they made, not even the public even their ex-cricketers too couldn't resist this defeat Sohaib Akhtar, Rashid Latif, and Ramiz Raza showed their disappointment. Now the great Wasim Akram too could not hold his frustration on what he saw on Sunday. 

Read More: Shoaib Akhtar slams PCB Management For Poor Team Handling

Itne Kele Bandar Bhi Nahi Kathe

Wasim Akram the ace pacer of Pakistan also couldn't hold his anger, in a recent interview on a TV show he said I was shocked by what I had seen during my live commentary. It was the second or third drinks break of innings when a plate full of bananas arrived for players. While presented there I was in a bitter shock they were eating so much I thought ( Itne Kele Bandar Bhi Nahi Kathe) even monkeys don't eat that much. 

You are representing your country on a global stage and you don't have the proper dietary plan ya its ok eating bananas gives you essential nutrients but eating that much is utter nonsense. You are not in any eating competition. If we have done this thing in our playing time our captain Imran Khan would have screwed us. He was that strict type of captain who had his set of rules if we didn't follow that it meant we were gone. 

Read More: Virat Kohli Would Have Been Given Out For Obstructing The Field An Opportunity Missed By Pakistan

Wasim To Go On More

 It has been disappointing when lots of people have expectations of you and you don't deliver that's a disheartening thing. Pakistan had an outside chance to remain in the Champions Trophy if Bangladesh had beaten New Zealand on Monday but unfortunately, it couldn't happen and Pakistan became the first host nation to be out of the tournament from its first round. 

 Even after the team selection when the list was shared, Wasim replied that he had a word with a chief selector to recheck the squad but he denied it and stated this was the best team for the Champions Trophy and now they are paying the price for it. You have to assess the situation where you are playing but now it's too late.