'This isn't your uncle's team': Why Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at Mohammad Rizwan?

Shoaib Akhtar lashes out at Mohammad Rizwan: The Pakistan national team have performed incredibly well in the last few months of international cricket having registered brilliant series win in South Africa and Zimbabwe. But former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar isn’t much satisfied with the approach of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management. Shoaib has shown his disappointment towards Mohammad Rizwan not making the required changes in his game with the change in formats.

Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at Mohammad Rizwan

During a recent interview, Shoaib Akhtar didn’t look much impressed with Mohammad Rizwan’s current mindset of approaching the game across formats. Akhtar clearly mentioned that one cannot play as per their own will across the three formats of the game and it is very much crucial to make the necessary adjustments according to the modern-day cricket.

“You don’t know what you are supposed to do with Rizwan. Rizwan also has to start thinking. This isn’t anyone’s uncle’s team that you can open in each format of the sport. You have to adjust the role given to you by the team. It is as simple as that. If you don’t, then there is the exit, you can leave. Don’t misbehave, just don’t select them,” said Shoaib Akhtar in an interview with PTV Sports.

Shoaib Akhtar further noted that he always likes to support the Pakistan team when they are winning but it is equally important to introspect the shortcomings. The former Pakistani speedster lambasted at the national team and reckoned that they need to bring some serious changes in their brand of cricket. He also stated that Pakistan Cricket’s future is on stake and things will continue to downfall, if the approach of the team management remains the same.

“There is no injustice as long as Pakistan is winning. If somebody misses out then that is ok. There was a series going on so it wasn’t necessary to criticize them during it. We support them so that they can make the right decisions. Now that the series is over, I am shouting my lungs out to say, ‘don’t play this type of cricket’. This is not acceptable. If you keep going this way, you will keep failing,” he added.

“PCB must take a notice of the team’s backward mindset,” says Shoaib Akhtar

The former Pakistan cricketer also reckoned that the Pakistan cricket Board should strictly let the team regarding the brand of cricket they want the team to play and carrying out of a backward mindset should be immediately discontinued. Shoaib stated that the board should select the right group of players for the next level and keep a regular check on the brand of cricket to match the modern-day standards of the game.

“I think the PCB must take a notice of the backward mindset being carried by the national team. They should tell them that this is the kind of cricket we want to play. This is Test cricket for us and this is the kind of strike rate I require from the captain and the team. Select the right people, those who deserve it. They should demand that,” Akhtar concluded.

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