Wasim Akram Angry At Razaullah's Popularity In Pakistan: 'We Have Accepted Mediocrity'

News cricket Wasim Akram Angry At Razaullah's Popularity In Pakistan: 'We Have Accepted Mediocrity'

Wasim Akram Angry At Razaullah's Popularity In Pakistan: 'We Have Accepted Mediocrity'

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Last Updated: September 21, 2026, 15:52 IST

Wasim Akram has criticized Pakistan for celebrating Razaullah's performance despite a series loss, stating it shows "accepted mediocrity."

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Razaullah struck 81 off 63 against England. (AP Photo)

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is not happy with all-rounder Razaullah becoming an overnight sensation in the country after his heroics in a losing cause at Edgbaston against England. He said that the thousands who came to celebrate him on his return showed Pakistan had ‘accepted mediocrity’, adding that Razaullah should have hidden his face until he reached home before celebrating.

Pakistan were thumped 3-0 in the series. Razaullah was one of the seven replacement players called from Pakistan in the middle of the series and blooded straight into the first team. The debutant showed impressive pace, picked up four wickets and scored a record-breaking 81 off 63 while batting at number nine. Though Pakistan still lost the third Test by eight wickets, videos from Islamabad airport showed him getting mobbed by supporters.

“Jara muh chhupake jao (hide your face at least)," Akram said at an event on Sunday. “Go and celebrate at your home. Let me get this straight, you may bring the best coach in the world, the best chairman in the world, but the players are from here, they are the same. There are no new players. Let’s talk about mindset: very talented. So, we got hammered by England, not lost, hammered. So he arrived in Islamabad with 5,000 people to welcome him. His whole village came to receive him with bouquets and garlands. This tells you the mindset. We have accepted mediocrity," he added.

Razaullah was seen as one of the few positives from the series of disappointments for Pakistan. Had it not been for his half-century, Pakistan would have lost the Test much sooner.

However, at the same time, there are fears that the country’s cricket system is not prepared to nurture such a talent. There have been several of similar calibre in the recent past whose careers have gone awry after an initially good burst.

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Quick Answers Powered by Ask News18 Why did Wasim Akram criticize the public reception of debutant Razaullah? Wasim Akram expressed anger over thousands of supporters mobbing debutant Razaullah upon his return to Islamabad after losing the Test series to England, stating that such celebrations show Pakistan has accepted mediocrity instead of hiding their face after a 3-0 defeat. How did Razaullah perform during the third Test against England at Edgbaston? Razaullah took four wickets in the first innings—including the crucial wicket of Joe Root—and smashed a blistering 81 runs off 63 balls batting at number nine in the second innings, which included multiple sixes. How many replacement players were called up by Pakistan during the series against England? Pakistan called up seven replacement players in the middle of the series, drafting them straight into the first team, which included the standout debutant Razaullah. Powered by Ask News18

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First Published: September 21, 2026, 15:52 IST

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