Wasim Akram blames Mohammad Amir's premature Test retirement for Pakistan's Gabba struggles
Pakistan Test legend Wasim Akram has pointed at the premature Test retirement of Mohammad Amir as one of the reasons for the dire showing in the opening Test against Australia.
The tourists came into the series opener with an largely inexperienced bowling attack featuring two teenagers in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, and were picked apart by Australia's opening pair in ruthless fashion on Day 2.
At the tea break, with Pakistan still yet to achieve a breakthrough, Akram questioned the decision of both Amir and fellow paceman Wahab Riaz to retire from Test matches just prior to the tour of Australia.
"What really happened was two of our premium bowlers just retired from Test cricket," Akram told Fox Sports.
Both Wahab and Amir are still available for selection in Pakistan's limited overs sides, but not for Test matches Getty
"Wahab Riaz, I'm all for him, he's 35 years of age, OK he retired from Test cricket fair enough. But Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan board and the whole country invested five years in him.
"He's 27 and he's retired from red ball cricket. If I was the Pakistan Cricket Board, I wouldn't have given him a central contract because he retired a month ago.
"Both of them knew this tour would be difficult and white ball (cricket) is easy, they thought they'll play leagues around the world and make money.
"I'm all for financial gain, but most of the time the country should come first.
"Amir should have come here and played a Test series and then maybe next year retired. That's the problem Pakistan had."
Mohammad Abbas was omitted for the first Test despite dominating Australia in last year's Test series Getty
Akram's comments came after the composition of Pakistan's pace attack for the first Test raised eyebrows, namely due to the omission of Mohammad Abbas, who was prolific against Australia in the UAE last year.
According to Akram, Abbas, who averages a stupendous 18.8 in Test cricket, would have been the perfect foil for the likes of Afridi and Naseem at the Gabba.
"They say his pace has declined, but at least he would've given you 25 overs wicket-to-wicket," he said.
"They picked Imran on present form, but those five wickets (against Australia A in the tour match) were in a day-night match with a pink ball."
