Pak can never be consistent: Akram

Pakistan can play good cricket and win big matches but they will always be inconsistent and unpredictable — this indictment comes from legendary seamer Wasim Akram barely days ahead of the India tour.

"Inconsistency and unpredictability will continue to be part of the Pakistan team. They can play good cricket but cannot win all the games. Even during my playing days we were never consistent," the former Pakistani skipper said.

There are a number of reasons for Akram to reach to this conclusion.

"Our domestic cricket structure is not strong enough, financial problems are being faced by the cricketers and players are being inducted in the senior team at very early stage," he said in an interview to Daily Times.

And those who complaint about his "coaching" Indian left-armers Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan, must realise that it is only advice from a senior player to juniors, he said.

"Pathan has a great respect for me. He considers me his idol. He came to me for some tips which I gave and nothing else. Other Indian bowlers like Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan have also approached me for advice.

"It is lamentable that no Pakistan bowler has ever contacted me for tips or advice. I cannot run after the Pakistan cricketers and tell them to come to me for advice. They should come to me on their own and I would certainly help them."

On Shoaib Akhtar, Akram said he had great respect for the speedster and had nothing personal against him.

"Instead of giving statements, Shoaib shold concentrate on his game. His statements show that either he is not a team man or he is trying to fool around. He just comes, talks, plays one game and then gets injured.

"He just thinks he is too good. He is the only one who praises himself all the time, calling himself Ferrari, which means there is something seriously wrong with him. He should let the ball talk.

"If a player like Shoaib keeps on behaving like this, then this would certainly hurt the morale and discipline of the team. He has to keep himself fit and play every game," Akram said.