Akram urges struggling Misbah to say goodbye to ODIs

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Wasim Akram has urged struggling skipper Misbah-ul Haq to say good-bye to ODIs, while blaming a lack of international cricket and the absence of a system for developing young players for the team's disappointing defeats in recent months.

Pakistan lost the final ODI against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to complete a 3-0 rout, and the upcoming Test series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) looks likely to be a tough proposition.

The fast bowling legend Wasim urged struggling one-day and Test captain Misbah to take a positive approach with the team, or step aside. He said that the skipper should take brave and aggressive decisions but added that he is not doing that, The Dawn reported.

Akram said that if any vice captain is ready to lead then Pakistan must say goodbye to Misbah, who withdrew himself from the third and final ODI in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, as far as ODI is concerned.

The common complaint in international cricket is that teams play too many matches, but Akram said that Pakistan was suffering for precisely the opposite reason. He said that Australia was always favourites to win the one-day series, so he added that do not blame the Pakistan team, because they are playing so much less international cricket than other countries.

Pakistan lost one-day and Test series against Sri Lanka in August, their first international encounters in six months.

Akram said that India is playing too much cricket and so is Sri Lanka, and they are performing well. While hitting out at a lack of infrastructure and shortage of junior-level tours, Akram added that he thinks the PCB should arrange more Under-19 tours and Pakistan 'A' tours which would help groom youngsters but that is not there.