Title: Wasim Akram says Pakistan cricket has become a laughing stock.

Desc:

Nuisance value always works in Pakistan cricket. It is seemingly working for one of the most controversial cricketers in world cricket today, Shahid Afridi. Even after bringing shame to Pakistan cricket by his "chewing-the-ball" incident during the fifth ODI versus Australia in Perth January-end, Afridi has been let off relatively lightly by the PCB. And if Wasim Akram is to be believed, cricket's super-brat is in line to be his country's next skipper!

Akram, who is in Mumbai for the Indian T20 extravaganza, said PCB's decision to indefinitely ban captains Mohammed Yousuf and Younis Khan reeks of indecision and short-sightedness.

"I was supposed to be on that committee to probe whet went wrong in Australia and New Zealand. I could not attend the meetings as I was busy. Now I think I am lucky that I wasn't part of this mess," Akram said.

The former speedster, who is now the bowling coach of the Kolkata team, said PCB was making Yousuf and Younis scapegoats for whatever happened on the tour Down Under.

"I agree Yousuf was the skipper, but if it is a question of indiscipline, the entire team management is at fault. And that means, the coach and manager are equally responsible. Why haven't they been punished? Did the coach and the manager go on a holiday?" said Akram.

Saying the players will surely challenge their bans in the court of law, Akram said PCB will again end up with egg on its face. "You can't stop a player's livelihood on charges of indiscipline. It is a ridiculous thing to do. Stiff fines would have been in order," the former skipper said.

"We have lost in Australia and New Zealand many times and we were certainly not saints. But we never behaved like this team. This team just doesn't want to win," rued Akram.

"The biggest problem with this team is that there are many players who want to be skipper. How can there be team spirit? I am not surprised that the players are fighting among themselves," Akram said, adding: "We faced similar situations during our times, but on the field, we played to win."

Akram slammed Afridi for the ball-tampering issue. "It was a silly thing to do and especially when you are leading the team. Yes, he was under pressure to win, but no one loves a cricketer who adopts unfair means," he said.

Then why did the PCB not ban Afridi? "In Pakistan, saab kuch chalta hai (everything is fine). If you want to, you can turn a blind eye even to the biggest mistake. We love it that way. We love mayhem," Akram said tongue-in-cheek, adding: "Afridi could even be our next skipper."

The only PCB verdict that got Akram's vote was the fine on Umar Akmal. The younger Akmal has been pulled up for indiscipline and he is definitely wrong somewhere, explained Akram. "Right or wrong, the decision on Umar is a good one. You will see its effect five years down the line. The boy will remember this fine," Akram said.

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