Wasim Akram struggles to hide pain as Pakistan clutch at straws to keep T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive – Watch

Wasim Akram was visibly pained after England beat Pakistan in Super 8s to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Updated on: Feb 26, 2026, 11:23:42 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The legendary Wasim Akram presided over some of Pakistan cricket’s greatest highs. Winning the 1992 World Cup and finishing as runners-up in the 1999 edition stand among his career's defining achievements. As lethal as he was with the ball, claiming four international hat-tricks and finishing as the world’s second-leading ODI wicket-taker, Akram played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s rise in world cricket from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Even after his retirement following the 2003 World Cup, Pakistan remained a force to be reckoned with, winning the World T20 2009, reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Wasim Akram in conversation with a Pakistani player (AFP)

However, the last few years have been abysmal for Pakistan. They were knocked out in the league stages of the 2023 and 2024 World Cups, and even in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Pakistan are hanging by a thread. A defeat to England has pushed them to the brink, and although the doors to the semi-finals have not completely shut, they are slowly closing.

Also Read: How Pakistan’s semi-final equation shifts after New Zealand’s thumping victory over Sri Lanka

Akram was in the commentary box when Harry Brook scored a century to guide England home, with the look on his face conveying more than words could. Akram appeared visibly pained as he watched a team he once helped shape struggle on the big stage. Ramiz Raja looked equally distraught, while Nasser Hussain called the action ball by ball, but Akram’s expression said it all.

Watch:

Why are Pakistan on the edge?

Pakistan need New Zealand to lose to England, and beat Zimbabwe by a big margin to pull through into the semis. As England secured a place in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup, the cameras captured all three commentators, but Akram’s expressions remained the biggest talking point. Time and again, Akram has maintained that he does not intend to be part of Pakistan's coaching setup, though he remains open to interacting with players individually. Since retiring, Akram has taken on multiple roles, including serving as a bowling consultant for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and as director and bowling coach of Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. However, the idea of coaching the national side has never appealed to him, largely because of his discomfort with trolling and the lack of respect he believes coaches often face from both the public and, at times, players.

Waqar Younis, Akram’s long-time fast-bowling partner, served as head coach of the Pakistan team on two occasions but had to step down both times within relatively short spells. More recently, the frequent turnover of coaches, such as Mike Hesson, Jason Gillespie, and Gary Kirsten, proves Akram’s point and reflects a mercurial approach the Pakistan Cricket Board has often shown toward its coaching staff.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.