Table of Contents
- A match that never lived up to the hype
- Wasim Akram: ‘Match was lost in the first 20 overs’
- Waqar Younis: ‘We didn’t have enough runs to defend’
- Shoaib Akhtar: ‘Brainless, clueless management’
- Mohammad Hafeez: ‘This bowling attack has failed repeatedly’
- Umar Akmal blames Babar Azam for weak bench strength
Pakistan’s six-wicket defeat to India in Dubai in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, with some of the biggest names in Pakistan’s cricketing history expressing their frustration and disappointment over the team’s performance. This was Pakistan’s second consecutive loss in the tournament, following a 60-run defeat to New Zealand, putting them on the brink of elimination. The poor showing against India, where Pakistan struggled to put up a competitive total of 241, was met with heavy criticism from former players such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal, all of whom blasted the team’s tactics, selection choices, and lack of intent.
A match that never lived up to the hype
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, but their approach was overly cautious and defensive. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were expected to lead the charge, but a lack of aggressive intent saw Pakistan post a modest total of 241 all out, which was never going to be enough against a powerful Indian batting lineup. In contrast, India made the chase look effortless, with Virat Kohli smashing an unbeaten century (100 off 111 balls) to take his side to victory. The result all but confirmed India’s place in the semi-finals, while Pakistan now face an early exit unless New Zealand lose to Bangladesh – a scenario that seems highly unlikely given the form of both teams.
Wasim Akram: ‘Match was lost in the first 20 overs’
Pakistan’s batting approach was slammed by legendary pacer Akram, who said the game was lost in the first innings itself. Speaking on ‘DP World Dressing Room’, Akram pointed out how Pakistan failed to take advantage of the powerplay, while India played with an attacking mindset from the outset. He further questioned the selection choices, particularly including Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha as bowlers, stating that relying on part-time options in a big game against India was a disastrous mistake.
“India hit 11 boundaries in the first 10 overs. Pakistan hit 11 boundaries in the first 20 overs. The match was over right there. I don’t know what they were thinking. Thinking Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha can dismiss world-class players? What was the strategy? There was none,” Akram said.
Waqar Younis: ‘We didn’t have enough runs to defend’
Former captain Waqar, on the same show, also criticized Pakistan’s lack of intent, admitting that they never gave themselves a chance to put India under pressure. Waqar pointed out how Babar and Rizwan initially showed intent, but after their dismissals, the team lost all direction.
“We like batting first, but if you don’t put up enough runs, this is what happens. You start over-trying things. Discipline is crucial in such matches, and India’s bowlers had it, but we didn’t. Babar was looking good, and Rizwan hit a four off his first ball. It looked like we were going to put up a strong score. But what happened after that? I honestly don’t know. I don’t think anybody knows,” Waqar said.
Also READ: IIT Baba faces backlash after India’s thumping win over Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025
Shoaib Akhtar: ‘Brainless, clueless management’
Arguably the harshest criticism came from Akhtar, who took to social media to voice his frustration. The former speedster did not hold back, blaming the management for the team’s lack of preparation. He further criticized the players’ lack of game awareness, saying they were not equipped with the skillset to compete against top teams like India.
“I am not disappointed at all because I knew this was going to happen. The whole world is playing with six bowlers, and you can’t even manage five. You go with all-rounders and hope for the best? Brainless. Clueless management. We can’t blame the players alone. The players are just like the management. They don’t know what to do. Intent is different from skill. They don’t have the skill of Rohit, Virat, or Shubman. Neither do they have game awareness, nor does the management,” Akhtar said in a video on X (formerly Twitter).
Mohammad Hafeez: ‘This bowling attack has failed repeatedly’
Former Pakistan all-rounder and coach Hafeez was furious at the performance of the team’s pace attack, saying the trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have consistently failed in major tournaments. He called for a complete overhaul of Pakistan’s bowling lineup, suggesting that new players should be given opportunities instead of sticking with the underperforming trio.
“Since 2022, this trio has played in the Asia Cup, T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and now the Champions Trophy. Every time, they have failed. Let’s move on from them. Let’s bring in Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Akif Javed, Mir Hamza. They are waiting for their chances. These three pacers have proven they can’t win us big tournaments,” Hafeez stated during PTV Sports’ Champions Trophy coverage.
Umar Akmal blames Babar Azam for weak bench strength
Adding more controversy to the situation, Akmal accused Babar of never building a strong bench during his tenure as captain. He revealed how he personally asked Babar for a chance but was ignored despite performing well in domestic cricket.
“I told Babar, give me a fair chance. You are playing well in the top order; I can be your finisher. We could win matches regularly together. But he didn’t listen. Babar was captain for nearly five years, and he never tried to build a backup squad because of his likes and dislikes,” Umar said on a TV channel.
