Shoaib Akhtar: “If PCB asks me to take the job and improve Pakistan cricket, I will take it. If they give me the responsibility, I will make these 12 players superstars and then create 22,000 superstars more”
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Fast bowling icon Shoaib Akhtar has declared that he will be able to “create 22,000 superstars” if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) entrusted him with improving cricket in the country.
First of all, though, Akhtar said he would focus his attention on the current players in the national team and ensure all of them become elite cricketers.
The men in green have endured a lot of ups and downs over the past few months.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, they lost to India three times, including in the final.
Akhtar is confident Pakistan can be a cricketing powerhouse once again, though he admits significant reforms are needed to make it happen.
“If PCB asks me to take the job and improve Pakistan cricket, I will take it. If they give me the responsibility, I will make these 12 players superstars and then create 22,000 superstars more,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now hosting South Africa on home soil and began by drawing the two-Test series 1-1.
The men in green and the Proteas are now facing each other in a three-match T20I series, which is tied at 1-1 going into the 3rd T20I on November 1 in Lahore.
Once the T20Is conclude, Pakistan and South Africa will play a three-match ODI series between November 4 and 8.
Afterwards, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15 and then participate in a T20I tri-series alongside Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
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