Former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh has strongly condemned ex-Pakistan players for their relentless criticism of the national team following their early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan, hosting its first ICC tournament since 1996, failed to progress past the group stage after suffering defeats to New Zealand and India. Their hopes of advancing were completely shattered when New Zealand secured a win over Bangladesh.
The backlash from fans and experts was swift, with prominent former cricketers such as Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, and Shoaib Akhtar openly expressing their disappointment. However, Yograj Singh believes these veterans should be helping the team instead of just criticizing them.
Yograj Slams Wasim Akram’s Comments on Players’ Diet
Yograj Singh was particularly outraged by Wasim Akram’s remarks regarding the Pakistan players’ diet during a match. Akram mocked the team for consuming bananas during a drinks break, saying he was shocked to see a plate full of bananas being served to the players. He even joked that “even monkeys don’t eat so many bananas” and claimed that former captain Imran Khan would have disciplined the players for such habits.
Reacting to these comments, Yograj stated that Akram and others should be ashamed of making such statements instead of taking responsibility for guiding the team.
“Wasim Akram is earning money from commentary while belittling his own team. If he truly cares, he should go back to Pakistan, organize a training camp, and try to make a difference. Let’s see if any of them can help Pakistan win the World Cup. If not, they should resign,” Yograj told News18.
Ready to Train Pakistan Team Himself
Yograj Singh, known for his strict coaching methods at the domestic level, even offered to step in and train the Pakistan team himself. He claimed that within a year, he could transform them into a formidable side if given the opportunity.
“I can go there and build a strong team within a year. It’s all about passion and dedication. I spend 12 hours a day at my academy because that’s what it takes to build a winning team,” he asserted.
He also challenged Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar to step forward and conduct a six-month training camp instead of just making critical remarks.
“If they genuinely want to help, will PCB refuse their offer? No. But instead, they choose to earn money by doing commentary and making negative comments about their own team,” he added.
Pakistan, the defending champions, are set to play their final tournament match against Bangladesh on February 27.
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