By IANS,
New Delhi : Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram said here Friday that the rescheduling of the Champions Trophy was probably the right thing, considering the current political turmoil in his country.
“Re-scheduling the Champions Trophy is a big blow for Pakistan cricket as it is in a shambles with no head and no direction. In hindsight, re-scheduling was probably good for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),” Akram said.
After President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf also put in his papers. Ashraf was handpicked by Musharaf to lead the PCB.
Akram, who is in the city for a five-day camp organised by Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DCCA), also expressed surprise at South Africa being the first country to back out of the tournament.
“I could understand Australia and New Zealand because they are so far off they don’t know the situation here,” he said.
On Pakistan’s twin problems, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, Akram said: “Shoaib is learning slowly, he now knows if he wants to be pampered, he needs to play more cricket. On the other hand, Asif is only 23, I believe we should not be too harsh with him. We have all made mistakes in our life.”
Akram also said he was impressed with the current lot of Indian fast bowlers and said: “I was very impressed with Ishant Sharma when I saw him in Australia. He is young and he will get stronger with age but we have to remember that injuries are part and parcel of the game.”
“Zaheer (Khan) has comeback really strongly after being dropped from the Indian side. He had a good stint with Worcestershire and now he is swinging the ball both ways, bowling with passion and looking supremely fit,” he said.