Shoaib Akhtar believes cricket brand that Pakistan’s playing is of bygone era

As the Pakistan team prepares itself for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar has said that Pakistan is playing cricket of a bygone era.

“I firmly believe that Pakistan is among the four sides to make into the qualifiers of the upcoming World Cup. However, Pakistan would need to get their act together, and the brand of cricket that Pakistan is playing is that of a bygone era,” he said.

Akhtar added that Pakistan needs to adopt the cricketing brand displayed by the likes of modern cricket superstars including Joss Buttler, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson.

Despite the team's recent struggles, the former fast bowler remained optimistic of Pakistan’s chances at the upcoming tournament. “According to me, Pakistan is still a far superior and dangerous side, and it has a high chance of winning the tournament, writing them off would be an act of stupidity,” he added.

After losing their first warm-up match against Afghanistan, and the second warm-up match against Bangladesh ended in no result, the Men in Green would begin their World Cup campaign with the first match against the West Indies on May 31.