“They were playing dot balls in the 18th and 19th overs”: Wasim Akram urges PCB to introduce a new clause in central contracts after debacle against India

Wasim Akram didn’t understand the strategy adopted by the Pakistan batters in their Super Four match against India in the Asia Cup 2025. After some sensational hitting by the top-order batters, the Men in Green slowed down in the middle and death overs, with captain Salman Agha playing dot balls in the 18th and 19th overs of the innings.

Pakistan were restricted to 171 in the 20 overs, and India won the match by 6 wickets in the 19th over of their run chase. The Men in Green were not able to pick Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, who once again bowled economical spells against the arch-rivals. Kuldeep picked up 1 wicket and conceded 31 runs from his four overs, while Varun went wicketless but gave away just 25 runs.

Akram was surprised to see the way Pakistan batters competed against the Indian spinners. “The PCB should add a clause in the central contract system, making it mandatory for the players to play first-class cricket,” he said on Sony Sports.

“They were playing dot balls in the 18th and 19th overs. They were not missing but defending the balls. They can’t read Kuldeep from the hand and were clueless. It is important that Pakistan players play red-ball cricket at home,” he added.

This was Pakistan’s second defeat against India in the ongoing Continental Cup. Salman Agha’s team lost the group stage match by 7 wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.