Wasim Akram: We Cannot Keep Cricket Away From Pakistan

Former Pakistani legend and fast bowler Wasim Akram said that the Pakistan crowd cannot keep deprived of cricket for long, as reported by Gulf News.

He said this while talking to media during the launch of Master Champions League (MCL) which will be played in February 2016 in UAE, featuring all the retired cricket stars.

Regarding the blast which took place outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during the second ODI, Wasim Akram said, “I  only hope that it will not prevent teams from visiting Pakistan. Everything went smoothly apart for that one incident and that too it is not concrete and nobody knows what really happened in that particular incident.”

He praised the crowds for braving extremely hot conditions to come out and watch the match. He said, “It should be noted that all the five games against Zimbabwe were packed though it was 48 degrees hot. People were queuing up three to four hours before the game and the whole country watched every ball. This is the passion we have in Pakistan for the game and we cannot keep away cricket from Pakistan.”

“This is the first step that has been taken by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring back cricket to Pakistan and so well done to PCB and thanks to Zimbabwe.”

Would love to see Jeff Thompson, Viv Richards play T20: Wasim Akram

Speaking to the media Wasim said that he’d love to see Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson play T20.

“There are a lot of players who retired before this format. If I have to watch any bowler bowling in Twenty20 I will pick Australia’s Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. It is indeed great to imagine Thommo running in to bowl at WACA in a Twenty20 match. In batting obviously I would have loved to watch one and only Viv Richards bat in the Twenty20 format”

He also said that the MCL was great idea and it will help the former cricketers earn money as not all get to land coaching or commentary jobs.

“It will be fun and exciting. We are all looking forward to it something very different and which I thought will never happen. Frankly, I never thought I would be asked to come and play a game again, although cricket is the only thing we know. The idea of staging MCL is very good as there are only a few who are lucky to gets jobs as commentators or coaches after retirement and the rest are struggling. The idea of this tournament is to help these guys come back and earn some money and play the sport they always loved.”