Former legendary cricketer Wasim Akram has addressed the ongoing criticism from former teammates, Aamir Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed, over Pakistan’s loss in the 1999 World Cup final against Australia. Both cricketers have recently accused Akram of poor decision-making, contributing to the defeat.
In an interview, Aamir Sohail claimed that Akram’s rise to captaincy before the 1999 World Cup was controversial and suggested that his leadership played a role in Pakistan’s inability to win another World Cup after 1992. He added that Pakistan’s losses in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups warranted further investigation.
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Ijaz Ahmed echoed similar sentiments, criticising Akram’s choice to bat first after winning the toss in the final, despite the heavy rain the night before. He suggested that Akram’s leadership decisions were questionable and that no team meeting was held to reassess the situation.
This debate has reignited discussions about Pakistan’s missed opportunities in international cricket during the 1990s, with other former cricketers weighing in on the team’s failures in major ICC tournaments.