Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has launched a scathing attack on the national team following their dismal performance in the ODI series against the West Indies. The Men in Green slumped to their first ODI series defeat to the Caribbean side in over three decades, dating back to 1991.
In the decisive third ODI, Pakistan endured a batting collapse, getting bowled out for just 92 runs while chasing. They eventually succumbed to a crushing 202-run defeat, their fourth-heaviest loss in ODI history. Only Salman Agha and Mohammad Nawaz managed to score over 20 runs.
A sensational career-best spell from Jayden Seales (6/18 in 7.2 overs) completely dismantled Pakistan’s batting order, leaving skipper Mohammad Rizwan and his team with no answers.
Akhtar Criticises Selfish Approach and Lack of Winning Mindset
Speaking on the Game On Hai show, Akhtar questioned the intent and approach of the batting unit, accusing them of prioritising their personal records over the team’s success.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 10-15 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑨𝒌𝒉𝒕𝒂𝒓.
The former pacer stressed the need for a complete shift in mindset, dressing room culture, and playing style to adapt to the demands of modern cricket. He also pointed out the team’s recurring struggles against even slight movement off the pitch.
“𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒂 𝒔𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒕𝒐𝒉 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒅 𝒋𝒂𝒂𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆). 𝑹𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒍𝒆𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒕𝒆 (𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆),” 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 50-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓-𝒐𝒍𝒅.
Akhtar lamented the loss of Pakistan’s trademark flair, recalling a time when the team played with aggressive intent and every player contributed to the cause rather than depending on a single performer.
Call for Urgent Change
The ex-cricketer has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the players to bring about an immediate change in their approach, warning that without it, Pakistan will continue to falter against competitive sides in world cricket.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill Not First Choice for India’s Squad Selection
