PAK vs AFG: 'These guys are eating 8 kgs of mutton everyday' - Wasim Akram rips into Babar Azam and company

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PAK vs AFG: Wasim Akram has ripped into the Pakistan team which suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Afghanistan in the World Cup 2023 on Monday, October 23. The Pakistan legend has questioned the fitness standards of Babar Azam's team.

Wasim Akram claimed that Pakistan players haven't gone through a single fitness test in the last couple of years, adding that they are possibly eating 8 kgs of mutton everyday in India. Akram backed his statement by pointing at the fielding howlers of the Pakistan team.

"It was embarrassing today. To reach 280-odd losing just two wickets is pretty big. Wet pitch or no, look at the fielding, the fitness levels. We've been screaming for the last 3 weeks that these players haven't undergone a fitness test in the last two years.

"Should I take individual names now? They have these massively chubby faces. It seems like these guys are eating 8 kilos of mutton everyday. Should there not be tests," a visibly frustrated Akram said on A Sports.

"Professionally you guys are getting paid, playing for your country. There has to be a certain criteria. Misbah, when he was coach, had that criteria. Players hated him but it worked. Fielding is all about fitness and that's where we are lacking. Now we have reached that same position, where we will pray for ifs and buts to happen," he added.

Akram also did not hesitate from taking shots at the current PCB regime under Zaka Ashraf and his predecessor Najam Sethi. He blamed them for making mindless decisions just to demean the previous incharges. Under the coaching unit which consisted of Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Yousuf and others, Pakistan reached the final of the T20 World Cup last year in Australia.

However, the entire setup was changed as soon as the new regime took over. Foreign coaches were brought in. Wasim Akram also pointed out how the high-performance centre established by Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani was converted to the National Coaching Centre. He added that no camp has been held at the NCA in the last eight months as saving their own job and employing their own people in the system was their only focus.

"We were excited we were No. 1 but man, come on! Last 6-8 months, we had one chairman. And once he came on board for 3-4 months, he straightaway changed the coaching staff. We reached the final last year. But out of the blue he came and shuffled things around. 'Get him out, throw this person out. Get your own guys in'," a fired up Wasim Akram said.

"You guys are seniors, elder to me, but next time onward, please… whoever becomes the chairman, think about the nation. Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani had worked so hard to get the high-performance centre together and build a system. They changed that too and made it into a National Coaching Centre. Not a single camp has been held there for 8 months. Why do you have to make unnecessary changes? Just leave it," Akram added.

Pakistan have now lost each of their last three matches against India, Australia and Afghanistan respectively. The side, which was being considered as one of the favourites to win the World Cup 2023, is in a spot of bother now. They will have to win each of the remaining four matches to fancy a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.