ISLAMABAD- Former Pakistan speed-star Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at country's skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, saying that the latter is to blame for the tribulations that Pakistan has been facing in the recent past.

"Misbah's tactics in one day cricket are mystifying really. His approach just puts pressure on the batsmen around him. His lack of singles means that when Pakistan is chasing they just dig themselves into a deep hole that just gets bigger and bigger," Akhtar said to sources. "The lack of strike rotation is a worrying trend, it's one of the basics of batting, something you are taught at a young age that if you can't hit the
ball for a four or six then at least look for a single instead of just blocking delivery after delivery.

"When your captain isn't leading from the front with the bat, then what do you expect from the others? The batting as a whole is a huge problem. The approach from the Pakistani batsmen is one that needs to be changed as it is either far too negative or on other days quite simply reckless.

"The captain is responsible for the selection of the final eleven and I hold him responsible for Pakistan's problems in one day cricket. The coaching staff is also to blame but the captain is the one who should be leading from the front and Misbah just isn't doing that."