"I Found Siraj To Be Bowling...": Wasim Akram Slams India For Changing Plan In CWC Final

Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram criticized Indian team management for changing the bowling tactics in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023. Akram said that he has been established as the future of Indian bowling and that in big games team should stick to what they have been doing.

India suffered a disappointing loss in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023. They were bundled out for 240 runs but bowlers tried to make a match out of it. They reduced Australia to 47/3 but after that, nothing went their way as Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labuschagne (58*) took them home.

One of the noticeable changes that India made was Mohammed Shami was handed the new ball instead of Mohammed Siraj, who took the new ball in every game in the league stage. Although Shami removed David Warner, he didn’t have proper control on the swing and leaked runs as well.

Wasim Akram highlighted that Mohammed Siraj bowled exceptionally well throughout the tournament. Akram pointed out the crucial breakthroughs that he provided for his team in the Asia Cup and World Cup 2023.

“If you ask me, I found Siraj to be bowling really well throughout the World Cup, though his wickets column may not suggest that, but the breakthroughs he gave in the Asia Cup and his recent performances have established him as the future of Indian cricket,” he said as quoted by IANS.

Mohammed Siraj took 6 wickets in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 and helped the team win the game. Also in World Cups, he got crucial breakthroughs and helped them dominate in the league stage.

In big games like the finals, teams should always stick to what they have been doing – Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram while highlighting Mohammed Siraj not taking the new ball said that the team should stick to what they did in the whole tournament in big finals. He explained:

“In big games like the finals, teams should always stick to what they have been doing and what’s been working for them. If they had kept pace and scored quickly in the middle overs, then it would have been a different ball game.”

The majority of the members of the Indian team have been rested for the ongoing T20I series against Australia. The likes of Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and others will be seen in action when India will tour South Africa.