Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has labelled Babar Azam as a “fraud” after Pakistan’s crushing six-wicket loss to India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (February 23).

Babar managed to score only 23 off 26 balls against the arch-rivals. The right-hander was looking in good touch before he edged one to KL Rahul behind the stumps, losing his wicket to Hardik Pandya.

“We always compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. Now tell me who is hero of Virat Kohli? Sachin Tendulkar and he has scored 100 centuries and Virat is chasing his legacy,” Akhtar said on the show “Game On Hai.”

“Who is Babar Azam’s hero? Tuk tuk (Without naming any cricketer). You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning,” he added.

“I would not even wish to talk about Pakistan cricket team. I am only doing this because I am getting paid. This is a waste of time. This deterioration I am seeing since 2001. I have worked with the captains, whose personality used to chance thrice a day,” he further remarked.

With this defeat, Pakistan are on their way out of the tournament of which they are the designated hosts. The Men in Green had lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in the event opener at Karachi.

Shoaib Akhtar was effusive in praise of Virat Kohli, who slammed an unbeaten hundred (100 off 111) to take India over the line with 45 deliveries to spare in the chase of 242.

“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.

He was also critical of the Pakistan team management. “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 a video shared on his X account.

Pakistan will face Bangladesh in their final group-stage game on Thursday (February 27) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.