Follow UsWhile criticising former Pakistan cricketers like Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar for their derogatory comments about the team's performances in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, former India pacer Yograj Singh has offered to coach Pakistan and make a winning team in one year.
Yograj was especially not pleased with Akram's comments on a TV show where he spoke about the Pakistan team's dietary preferences. He pointed out that a tray of Bananas was sent for the Pakistan players during the drink's break, which would have been frowned upon by their former captain, Imran Khan.
"I think it was the second or the third drinks break. And I saw a plate full of bananas coming out for players to eat. Itni kele bandar bhi nahi khatte [Even monkeys don't have so many bananas]. And it's their diet. Had it been out captain Imran Khan, he would have given me a beating over it," Akram said on a post-match show. 'Dressing Room'.
Commenting on that, Yograj, in a chat with New18, said, “Wasim Akram should be ashamed for saying such things. Shoaib Akhtar, another big player, is saying bad things. Wasim is earning money doing commentary. Go back to your country, organise a camp for these players. I want to see which one of you can help Pakistan win the World Cup, and if not, then resign.
"Mein jata hoon, ek saal mein team khadi kar kay dikhaunga tum yaad rakhoge [I can coach them. I will build this team in one year and you’ll will remember it].
"It’s all about passion. I am spending 12 hours here [at his academy]. It's very easy to make big claims. You will have to give your blood and sweat for your own country to make a difference," he added.
Instead of helping out the players, Yograj alleges that Akram and Akhtar are happy just making money by doing commentary and degrading their own players.
“Do you think PCB will say no if Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis or Shoaib Akhtar come up and say ‘we want to take a camp of six months to improve our team’s performance'? But no, they won't do that. They will just earn money by doing commentary and saying heinous things," Yograj, who has played six ODIs and a Test for India, said.
Pakistan are out of contention for a place in the Champions Trophy semi-final regardless of how they fare in their final Group A match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.