Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the national cricket team following their crushing defeat against India in the fifth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
While speaking on a cricket show, the Rawalpindi Express expressed disappointment with the poor show of green shirts in all departments against arch-rivals.
“We always speak about intent but I think they also lack skills. If they had skills, they wouldn’t have played like way.”
He also talked about the team management and captaincy during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, labeling them “clueless” and “brainless”.
“Clueless management, to be honest, brainless captaincy… absolutely average team who displayed the skills there… nothing to talk about it,” Akhtar said.
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Shoaib Akhtar lamented the team’s ‘successive’ failures in the past few years.
“It is not unusual (from Pakistan team). Nothing to talk about it… they don’t know what to do… honestly nothing,” Shoaib Akhtar added.
Earlier, Virat Kohli’s record-breaking century and disciplined bowling propelled India to a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a crucial match of marquee event at the Dubai International Stadium.
India chased down a modest 242 with a loss of four wickets and 45 deliveries to spare. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten with 100 runs as he smashed seven fours. Shreyas Iyer struck 56 runs, studded with seven fours and a six.
Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets for 74 runs in his 8 overs. For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed was the only positive as he finished with figures 1-28 in his 10 overs.
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Saud Shakeel scored a fifty as Pakistan set a 242-run target for India. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan made 46 off 77 balls, while Khushdil Shah scored 38 off 39 deliveries.
Kuldeep Yadav was India’s bowler’s pick, taking three wickets, while Hardik Pandya took two.
Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each in the game.
READ: Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli opens up after his match-winning century against Pakistan