Mohammad Akram interview

In a very candid interview with PakPassion.net, Mohammad Akram looks back on his career, talks frankly about the two Ws and speaks out on the demerits of the cricketing system in Pakistan.

Mohammad Akram: Neither of them, they didnt do anything for youngsters. It was part of their policy to not let youngsters in.

This isn't the first time I've heard this, about Wasim and Waqar blocking the progress of youngsters...

Mohammad Akram: (interrupts) ...no I wouldn't call it blocking, they didn't block anyone. It was more a case of the fact that they didn't like to see anyone coming near them or reaching them. That was part of the reason they didnt like Shoaib, they were well against him.

...The final straw was in 2001 when Aaqib Javed (who was then a selector) came into my hotel room to tell me that with both Wasim and Waqar being fit I was not needed in the squad for the upcoming Asian Test Championship. I had a contract with a club here in England and so I took the next flight out of Pakistan and came to England to play some cricket. Then suddenly I got a phone call from another selector, Zakir Khan, telling me that not only was I in the Test match squad but I was also going to be playing in the final XI vs Bangladesh at Multan. He also stressed that the game was taking place the day after tomorrow and that I needed to come back, so against my better judgement I tried to get a flight back to Pakistan. Unfortunately it was too short notice and I was unable to get back in time, so they banned me for two years for not turning up to play

What's your opinion on Shoaib? Is he as arrogant and aggressive as we are led to believe?

Mohammad Akram: If you know Shoaib then he's a lovely chap to be around, you'll really enjoy his company and you'll certainly never be bored (laughs). However if you dont know him then it's a different story, he's that sort of character. To understand Shoaib you have to get to know him, once you get to know him, you can understand where he's coming from and what he's talking about. When it come to Shoaib as a cricketer, I always think 'what a waste'. .