(RIGHT) Pakistan players react after their defeat to India in the Champions Trophy; (LEFT) Shoaib Akhtar. (PHOTO: AP, X)
Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has lampooned Pakistan management as ‘brainless and clueless’ after the team’s second successive defeat in the Champions Trophy. After losing to New Zealand in the first game of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan were handed a six-wicket defeat on Sunday by India in Dubai.
In a series of clips he shared on his social media handle, Akhtar slammed the way Pakistan team had gone about its business. He pointed out the team selection of an all-rounder-heavy side. The former fast bowler lampooned the team and said that they couldn’t even match the skills of the Men in Blue players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill.
“I am not disappointed at all (by the defeat to India) because I knew what would happen. You can’t select five bowlers, the whole world is playing six bowlers… you go with two all-rounders but this is just brainless and clueless management. I am really disappointed,” Akhtar said in an emotional video that he posted on his X account. “We can’t blame the kids (Pakistan players); The players are just as the team management is! They don’t know what to do. The intent is a different thing, they don’t have the skillsets like Rohit, Virat, and Shubman. Neither they know anything, nor the management. They have just gone to play without any clear direction. No one knows what they should do.”
Watch: Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan think tank
I’m not disappointed at all. pic.twitter.com/Hmc38V03KJ
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) February 23, 2025
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Watch: Shoaib Akhtar heaps praise on Virat Kohli
Give him Pakistan and he will come back in form with a match winning 100. #Kohli pic.twitter.com/6eGq048PmF
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) February 23, 2025
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Akhtar was also full of praise for India’s game-winner Virat Kohli, who ended the night with an unbeaten century.
“We have seen this in the past. When you tell Virat Kohli that he has to play against Pakistan, he will score a century. Hats off to him, he’s like a superstar! He’s a white ball run chaser! Modern-day great! No doubt about him. I’m very happy for him. He deserves all the praise,” Akhtar said.
