‘Look at their structure, money for players, backup talent’: Pakistan legend Wasim Akram lauds India

DUBAI (Agencies): India had a world cup to remember despite not finishing with the trophy as ‘one bad day’ cost them the title. The Rohit Sharma-led side won all their nine league matches before outclassing New Zealand in the semi-final. More than the victories, the manner in which India brushed aside their opponents hit the headlines as they were hardly challenged before the summit clash with Australia last Sunday. Fast bowling legend Wasim Akram said the Indian team must’ve been left shattered with how the final turned out but advised them to continue the good work while pointing out the reasons for their incredible run. “Obviously they must be shattered to lose the final but in cricket these things happen. India had one bad day, and unfortunately, it came in the final,” Akram said. “You look at their structure, the money for players, the well thought out programs and the back up talent and they really just need to continue doing these things. Their cricket is in a good place,” he added. Akram can empathise with India’s defeat considering he was at the receiving end of one such loss to Australia in the world cup final back in 1999 when he was the Pakistan captain.

“I was captain when we played them in the 1999 World Cup final and although we had beaten them in the league stage, in the final they were a different side just like yesterday in Ahmedabad,” Akram said. Another former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif feels that India deserved to win the title but credited Australians for their mental toughness after they recovered from two defeats at the start of the competition to win a record sixth ODI world title. “Maybe it is just a psychological thing with the Indian players. This team was worthy of winning the World Cup final but all credit to the Australians for showing once again how mentally tough and organised they are in their sports,” Latif said. Latif picked Mohammed Shami as India’s standout performer in the World Cup after the pace finished as the leading wicket-taker. In just seven matches, Shami picked up 24 wickets. “You look at the way he (Shami) has come up and done so well. He was in my opinion the standout player for India in this World Cup,” Latif said.