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Shoaib Akhtar tore into Pakistan's batting lineup expressing his frustration with their failure to perform under pressure in crucial matches. Pakistan's batting was once again exposed in their recent Champions Trophy clash against India, which they lost by six wickets in Dubai on February 23. Pakistan's humiliating defeat to India reignited scrutiny over their consistent underperformance in major ICC events. Key players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who were expected to lead the charge, faltered during the high-stakes clash, leaving Pakistan on the brink of elimination from their home tournament.
Akhtar specifically targeted the 'talent' label frequently applied to players such as Babar, Rizwan, and Khushdil, who were once seen as the future of Pakistani cricket. He criticized the gap between their perceived potential and their actual performances, suggesting that the "talent" tag had become an excuse for their consistent failures on the big stage.
“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?: Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar further intensified his criticism by drawing a stark contrast between the Pakistani batters and their Indian counterparts. He asserted that the Pakistani players simply do not measure up to the caliber of Indian superstars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer. This direct comparison highlighted the perceived difference in skill, temperament, and performance between the two batting lineups, emphasizing the gulf that exists between the teams. Akhtar's statement underscored his belief that the Pakistani batsmen lack the necessary qualities to consistently perform at the highest level, particularly when facing formidable opposition.
“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," Akhtar further stated.
Babar Azam, often compared to Virat Kohli by Pakistani cricket fans, could only score 23 runs from 26 balls in the match against India. This performance, coupled with Pakistan's second consecutive loss in the Champions Trophy, further fueled the scrutiny surrounding his batting.
Pakistan's legendary pacer then stressed on the critical importance of players demonstrating their talent in high-pressure situations. He argued that consistently delivering match-winning performances on the grand stage is essential for players to truly establish themselves as valuable assets to their team. This highlighted Akhtar's belief that potential alone is insufficient, and that players must translate their talent into tangible results when it matters most.
"No one becomes a star in the dark, you have to take wickets and score runs. I have been hearing there is talent for the last 10 years, if there was talent, it would’ve been on display,” he added
While Akhtar delivered harsh criticism of the Pakistani batsmen, former captain Mohammad Hafeez offered a contrasting perspective. Hafeez said that the Pakistani team has ample talent, but argued that the primary issue lies in the team's planning and execution. He specifically criticised the selectors for failing to assemble a squad that was ideally suited to 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.
