Wasim Akram, the head coach of Karachi Kings, has defended star left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir after former players and Pakistan Super League fans questioned his on-field antics.
You need characters and a little rivalry, and I am all for Amir because of the things he has been saying as a bowler, according to Akram. What’s the point of hugging and shaking hands with the batter before a PSL game, or any game, he continued?
“Ok, after the game, before the game, I am all for it. But during the game, be professional, and these little words off the field also add spice to the PSL. That is the beauty of PSL. We should enjoy instead of criticising the person individually and consistently,” he concluded.
Ahead of the clash between Karachi Kings and Babar’s Peshawar Zalmi earlier this month, Amir had angered Babar Azam’s fans before the season when he said that he doesn’t differentiate between the wickets of Zalmi, the captain, and a tailender. “My job is to take wickets and win matches for my team, so for me, facing Babar or a tailender batting at number 10 will be the same.”
In response to the remark, Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi stated, “What did Amir say about Babar? Surprising. Any side in the cricketing world will respond, “Ohhh, Babar Azam,” if you tell them that Babar Azam is playing. “King.” Something like these shouldn’t take place.
We honour Babar, our captain, for his leadership. It goes without saying that if Pakistanis themselves don’t respect their captain, then who will.
