Shoaib Akhtar launched a scathing attack on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan following Pakistan’s humiliating defeat against India in the Champions Trophy 2025 match on Sunday. Pakistan were completely outplayed as Virat Kohli’s century virtually secured India’s spot in the semi-finals. On the other hand, this marked Pakistan’s second consecutive loss in the tournament, leaving their chances of progressing in the competition uncertain. During the post-match analysis, Shoaib Akhtar questioned the ‘talent’ in the current Pakistan team and whether Babar Azam could still be compared to Virat Kohli, given the stark contrast in their performances.
“Kaunsa talent? Kaunsa talent hai? Kis cheez ka? (Which talent, what kind of talent?)” Akhtar said on Career TV’s YouTube channel.
“Would you rate Babar to Virat Kohli? Iyer to Khushdil Shah? Rohit Sharma to Fakhar Zaman? Our Rizwan, which one is the talent? Talents are displayed. It’s not about talking, you have to deliver,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez acknowledged that the current team has talent but blamed the selectors for poor planning and team selection. He stated that the selection committee failed to assemble the ideal squad suited for the conditions of the Champions Trophy.
“Pakistan’s got talent. Planning is very poor. By choice, we don’t keep a quality opener and extra spinners. We have dominated the conditions for nine or 10 years as a home team. We should know what is the winning mantra here [in Dubai]. We don’t have a second spinner. We take a mystery spinner, who can’t be a big turner. No mystery spinner is one by default. We have no finger and wrist spinners. The ones we have are non-regular,” Hafeez said during the same discussion.
The backlash from Pakistan’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy, especially the humiliating defeat to India, has hit the team hard. According to a source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the support staff, led by former fast bowler Aaqib Javed, is set to be overhauled.
Pakistan lost to arch-rivals India by six wickets in Dubai on Sunday, following their 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on February 19.
A well-informed PCB source revealed that Aaqib Javed will be relieved of his duties as interim head coach after the Champions Trophy.
“Obviously, there is backlash over the team’s performance in the Champions Trophy. The Board hasn’t decided yet on whether the team will have separate head coaches (for red and white ball teams), but one thing is certain—the current support staff will be overhauled now after the poor show in the Champions Trophy,” the source told PTI.
“But the way the Board has been changing coaches and selectors since last year, it will be a challenge to find other candidates for these positions,” the source added.
(With PTI inputs)
Topics mentioned in this article:
- Shoaib Akhtar
- Babar Azam
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Virat Kohli
- Champions Trophy 2025
- Pakistan Cricket Team
- India vs Pakistan
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