"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," Akram said.
Akram said the players are also scared of offending the administrators 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 said.
Younus floated the idea of a players' association a few days ago and his proposal has been met with a positive response from the Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt.
In 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 too didn't work after failing to get the BCCI's backing.
