Wasim Akram Slams PSL With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Example: 'Has A Single Batter...'

Wasim Akram has questioned the quality of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as the pipeline for the national team, saying that the competition has not produced ‘a single batter’ of the quality of India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The legendary fast-bowler said PSL will need to churn out batting talent like Pakistan’s arch-rival neighbors if the team were to return to its competitive ways at the highest level.

Akram has enjoyed highly successful coaching and mentoring careers in both the IPL and the PSL, and was the first person to be part of title-winning teams in both tournaments. In the IPL, he served as the bowling coach and mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2010 to 2017. In PSL, he took leadership roles across multiple franchises including

Islamabad United, Multan Sultans, and Karachi Kings.

“It has been 10 years since the PSL started, but has a single batter been produced by the PSL? Yes we have produced a few bowlers but tell me have we produced any noteworthy batting talent,” he questioned. “I think when we produce a batting talent like the 14-year old (Sooryavanshi, 15) then we will see improvement coming through,” he said.

He said the lack of talent production was visible in the ongoing three-Test series, where Pakistan lost the first two Tests and did a controversial mid-series overhaul of the squad.

“In England in the ongoing series they didn’t move their front foot forward, playing bowlers like Ollie Robinson while standing rooted in the crease. You need to play with courage, but for that, talent is essential.”

A product of Ludhiana Gymkhana cricket club, Akram pushed for improvement at the lowest level of cricket in Pakistan’s biggest cities.

“Club cricket needs to be revived if we want improvement in red ball cricket. The PCB should spend 100 million rupees each in Karachi and Lahore, as talent comes from club cricket,” he said.