Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar: “If your management and captain are weak, there will be groupism. If the captain is selfish, there will be groupism. Same is the case if the coaches are afraid of the captain”
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Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said groups form in the national team if the captain and team management are weak.
He noted that this is also the case if the skipper of the side is “selfish”.
Akhtar’s comments come at a time when speculation has been rife about groups forming within the Pakistan team, with certain big-name players being in charge of them.
“If your management and captain are weak, there will be groupism. If the captain is selfish, there will be groupism. Same is the case if the coaches are afraid of the captain. The captain calls the shot when it comes to selection. This has been the culture since my playing days,” the Rawalpindi Express, who bowled the fastest ball in international cricket at 161.3 kph (100.2 mph), said on PTV Sports as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan recently faced Bangladesh in a two-Test series, which they surprisingly lost 2-0.
Following this, they took on England in a three-Test series and managed to secure a 2-1 win, which was their first Test series victory on home soil since 2021.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a limited overs tour of Australia, where they will play three ODIs and three T20Is from November 4 to 18.
Afterwards, they will travel to Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is that will take place from November 24 to December 5.
Pakistan Squad for Australia ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan Squad for Australia T20I Series: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan