Players lack mutual trust in India, Pak: Akram

Lack of mutual trust among cricketers is the reason why players' associations have never succeeded in India and Pakistan, feels legendary pacer Wasim Akram.

"We have a strange culture in India and Pakistan. Players just can't trust each other. I think it is the only reason why players' associations have not worked," the former Pakistan pace ace said.

Akram said the players are also scared of offending the administration in their respective countries.

The former captain feels Pakistan badly needs a players' body, but it would be quite a task for current skipper Younus Khan to succeed in forming one.

"In our part of the world, it is a must. In India, the BCCI is quite supportive of the players. In Pakistan, it is not. If Younis succeeds, nothing like it," Akram told ESPN-STAR.

Younus floated the idea of a players' association a few days ago and his proposal met with positive response from Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt.

In the case of India, players associations have never been a success. Kapil Dev and party made the first definitive move in the 1980s to launch one. It saw the light of the day with Arun Lal at its helm, but due to lack of cohesion, it died a slow death.

In the 1990s, the Indian Cricket Players' Association was launched with much fanfare in Kolkata, but it fizzled out after failing to get the BCCI's backing.