2009 Champions Pakistan have began their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on a questionable note. The Babar Azam-led side started with a loss to minnows and host USA in the Super Over before losing by six runs to arch-rivals India in a low-scoring thriller. Pakistan got off the mark in their third match against Canada to stay alive in the race for Super 8 qualification.

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has hinted at a possible rift in the team dressing room as the main reason for their poor result. Without naming the players, Akram said that there are players who do not talk to each other due to various reasons, which has affected the team’s synergy.

 

“Somebody has to speak the truth about this Pakistan cricket (team). It’s kind of getting out of hand. Kisi ka mood off hai, woh uss se baat nahi kar raha, yeh uss se baat nahi kar raha (somebody’s mood is off, this guy is not talking to that guy). Come on guys! What is this going on! Poore mulq ke jazbaat ka tumne satyanaash maar ke rakh diya hai. Hadd hoti hai kisi cheez ki (you have played with the emotions of the entire nation, there is a limit to everything),” Akram said on Star Sports before Pakistan’s match against Canada in New York.

Meanwhile, Akram has also suggested that the Pakistan cricket team should look at a new pool of players and make a new squad. He also hinted that there will be a new team in one year.

“Enough is enough! Done! Bring in new kids, make a new Pakistan team. The entire Pakistan community back home and here (in the US) is depressed. They were celebrating that we are winning (against India), after a long time, that too against such a big team. But they (Pakistan team) said ‘no, we don’t want to win come what may’,” Akram said.

“Now they should go, look at themselves in the mirror and say on their own that they won’t play now..,My advice to them (Pakistan Cricket Board) will be play a new team, new kids. We are anyway losing…mould those kids. There will be a team in place in one year’s time.”

Pakistan are currently placed at the third spot in the Group A points table with two points in three matches. They are in Group A along with India, United States, Canada and Ireland.