Karachi: Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram has lashed out at some former stalwarts who refused to apply for the head coach's position of the national team because of his involvement in the process of shortlisting the candidates.
Without taking names but in an obvious reference to former Test cricketers, Mohsin Khan and Aaqib Javed, Akram said he was disappointed to know some former players didn't want to apply because they felt the Pakistan Cricket Board had already been advised to appoint a foreign coach by him and another former captain Ramiz Raja.
"What sort of attitude and mindset is this. One former player said I will apply and talk directly to the Chairman. When you have such a mindset how can one expect them to work well with the Pakistan team," Akram told Geo News channel.
Akram and Ramiz were appointed by the PCB to help it shortlist coaching candidates for the head coach's position which eventually went to South African Mickey Arthur after Englishman Peter Moores and Australian Stuart Law pulled out of the race.
The former fast bowler, who is now a well-known commentator, said he had always believed in giving respect to his senior players.
"But even respect is a give and take thing and one expects to be respected by everyone," Akram said.
Akram said he and Ramiz had only helped the PCB in shortlisting the candidates.
He confirmed that no high profile Pakistani coach had sent his application through the given channel by the Board.
Akram was clearly riled by the statements of Mohsin, who said he wouldn't apply to his juniors or players with tainted pasts.
