Former speedster Shoaib Akhtar launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan cricket team after they succumbed to a humiliating seven-wicket defeat at the hands of India in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A fixture in Dubai on Sunday (September 14).
Not the one mince his words, Akhtar described the current squad as one that lacks the quality to compete with top international sides.
Pakistan’s innings was restricted to 127/9 in 20 overs after they won the toss and opted to bat first. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-18) and all-rounder Axar Patel (2-18) led the charge, tightening the screws with stunning spells. Jasprit Bumrah (2-28), Varun Chakaravarthy (1-24) and Hardik Pandya (1-34) shared the remaining five scalps among them.
In reply, the Men in Blue made light work of the chase, reaching the target in 15.5 overs. While Abhishek Sharma’s stole the show with 13-ball 31 at the top, skipper Suryakumar Yadav finished the job with 37-ball 47*. Tilak Varma also contributed run-a-ball 31 before perishing.
“It was a disappointing performance on all fronts. I think Saim Ayub was the pick of the bowlers. And it seems like we (Pakistan) have found ourselves a proper spinner finally, at 35 years of age," Akhtar said while speaking on PTV Sports.
“Of course, we got to witness and understand that there’s a vast difference in the quality of cricket that Pakistan plays compared to the rest of the world. Most of the other teams play a high level of cricket, while we are playing club-level cricket," he added.
The Rawalpindi Express reserved his sharpest criticism for Pakistan’s batters, who failed to rise to occasion once again against the Indian bowling unit.
“Our quality of batting was on full display — or rather, the lack thereof. Suryakumar Yadav was just playing sweeps and cuts to his heart’s content, having his way with our bowlers," he remarked.
Akhtar went on to highlight that pacer Shaheen Afridi outshone the top order with the bat. “If you are going to tell me that playing the Indian spinners was very tricky, then why was Shaheen Shah Afridi able to hit 33 off 16 balls, with a handful of sixes?"
In his final verdict, Shoaib Akhtar declared that Pakistan team doesn’t belong in the same league as top cricketing nations.
“We are lacking quality. We are not a team that can compete with the likes of South Africa, India, England, or Australia. We’re just a bit better than the associate members, is all."
