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Former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes that Pakistan cricket isn't headed in the right direction even if they manage to win the upcoming 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE. He opined that the team needs to focus on the longer formats and that should be their aim.

"If Pakistan wins the World Cup this year, then it should not surprise anyone. But even if they manage to win the World Cup, are they going in the right direction? No, they aren't. T20 is not our aim and it shouldn't be our aim as well," Akhtar said.

"So what did Pakistan do differently in T20I that they performed so well? The difference was just in the attitude. The problem with Pakistan is that they cannot play 50 overs. They have the talent but they simply can't play 50 overs. Can't rotate the strike," he added.

Akhtar also said that England underestimated Pakistan’s potential in the shortest format which led to their downfall in the first T20I of the three-match series.

"When it comes to T20, England must realise that Pakistan is a great T20 team. No one is better than Pakistan, not India, not Afghanistan. England's team is underestimating Pakistan team and perhaps they do not understand that Pakistan's T20 team is one of the best in the world," he added.