Shoaib Akhtar Goes Madly At Brainless Pakistan After Champions Trophy 2025 Defeat vs India

India’s commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has almost booked their tickets for the semifinal. Shoaib Akhtar, the former pacer, has addressed the management’s strategy as clueless and brainless.

The Green Brigade’s disappointing defeat has almost eliminated them from the eight-team tournament. At least, they won’t have the power of qualifying alone without depending on the other results. Shoaib Akhtar has questioned the selection of an all-rounder-heavy side.

Pakistan’s slow middle-over batting kept them at 241

Pakistan enjoyed a decent opening stand of 41 runs between Babar Azam and Imam Ul Haq, as India was off the mark with the new ball in the first six overs. But a poor shot and a risky single cost them two successive wickets.

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Mohammad Rizwan put up a 106-run stand for the third wicket with Saud Shakeel, but it took them nearly 24 overs at an economy rate of just around 4.5. India has struggled to take wickets in the middle overs in both encounters, but Rizwan failed to take advantage of the period.

The wicket-keeper batter smashed just 46 runs in 77 balls at a strike rate of 60. Even Shakeel was slow at the beginning before he increased the pacer to 62 runs in 76 deliveries at a strike rate of 81.58. It was Khusdil Shah’s 38 runs in 39 deliveries that carried them to the 241-run mark. Otherwise, the situation could have been more tough.

Shoaib Akhtar questions Pakistan’s plan of five bowlers in Champions Trophy

Most of the teams in their opening game of the ICC event have gone with six bowlers, unlike Pakistan, who have five options. Even in the squad, they have just one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, while on the other hand, India has carried five spinners in the side, including three all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.

Shoaib Akhtar, in a passionate social media post, reckoned that he was not disappointed at their defeat to India but was confirmed of the future debacle.

“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, and You go with two all-rounders, but this is just brainless and clueless management. I am disappointed.” Shoaib Akhtar expressed in a social media video.

Thanks to Hardik Pandya’s pace bowling ability, India had the opportunity to use him with the new ball when Mohammed Shami struggled to find the right line and length.

Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s main pacer, went for 2/74 in his eight overs, while Harid Rauf was dispatched for 52 runs without any success in just seven overs. The best bowler of the evening for the Green Brigade was Abrar Ahmed, who ended with 1/28 in 10 overs.

Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan’s lack of skillsets to compare with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s management and the skillset of the players, comparing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as their players don’t have any clear direction for the future.

Also Read: Ex-Pakistan Opener Addresses India’s Weakness During Champions Trophy 2025 Encounter

“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.” The Rawalpindi-born addressed.

“Neither they know anything nor the management. They have just gone to play without any clear direction. No one knows what they should do.” Shoaib Akhtar concluded.