Wasim Akram, the famous Pakistani fast bowler, is dealing with some heat right now. A few cricket experts and former players are going after him. Old clips of his ex-teammates Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed have popped up again, and they’re not holding back. They’re bashing Akram’s choices during the 1999 World Cup final against Australia, saying his call at the toss led to their loss. It’s worth remembering that after Pakistan’s terrible showing in the Champions Trophy 2025, the whole 1990s generation of the team got blamed for ongoing problems in Pakistan cricket.
Ijaz Ahmed really went in on Akram, recalling the 1999 final and saying:
When we won the toss, it felt like we’d already won the whole thing. But Wasim Akram messed up so badly that day, even a kid playing street cricket wouldn’t have made the same mistake. I even told him the night before, because it had been raining hard, not to choose to bat first. If he was feeling pressured, he should have called a team meeting in the morning. But he didn’t get us together. I saw Imran Khan before the toss and said hello. Then Wasim won the toss and announced it was the team’s choice to bat first. As I walked away, Imran pulled me aside and said, ‘You guys have already lost this match.’ Ijaz said.
“Wasim Akram made wrong call on toss in 1999 final that too without any team meeting. Imran told me on toss Pakistan has lost.” 👀🤯
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) March 13, 2025
Ejaz Ahmed on 1999 final debacle ⤵️
pic.twitter.com/ltHaulGpJs
Aamer Sohail also didn’t hold back, claiming Akram was the reason Pakistan struggled in the 1992, 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups. Aamer feels like Pakistan may have lifted the trophy many times if it wasn’t for Akram.
Real reason behind 1999 WC final loss
— صالح (@iisaleh97) March 13, 2025
👇 https://t.co/N5Olkdehdl pic.twitter.com/A3asf8Aj63
Before the World Cup, there was talk about replacing the current captain me with Wasim Akram. Wasim Akram’s big achievement for Pakistan cricket is that he made sure we didn’t win another World Cup after 1992! Imran Khan should be thanking him like anything.
People need to look into who was really at fault. There is no possible way that the team should have lost so many times. he stated.
These accusations are big, and it’s a bad look at the moment to see former teammates pointing fingers. It also raises questions about the old team dynamics. It will be interesting to see if Akram or any other former players respond to these claims and try to set the record straight. It definitely opens up a can of worms about Pakistan cricket history.
