 "Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan lack impact players and India are favourites for the upcoming mega clash. Image: Reuters")
Pakistan cricket greats Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar have questioned Pakistan’s batting in ODIs as the Men in Green suffered a crushing 60-run loss to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 opener at Karachi on Wednesday.
Akram, Akhtar slam Pakistan’s batting in ODIs
Needing 321 to win, Pakistan were bowled out for 260 after a rudderless start to the match where two out of their four top-order batters scored at a strike rate of less than 50, while star batter Babar Azam took 81 balls to reach his fifty and eventually got out on 64 from 90 balls.
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Legendary pacer Akram said Azam’s scoring rate does not belong to modern-day cricket and he would rather have the former captain score a quick-fire 35 off 30 balls instead of scoring 60 off 90 balls.
“I don’t want 60 off 90 balls from my main player,” Akram said on Sports Central show Dressing Room. “I’d rather have him getting 35 off 30 balls and get out instead of getting 64 off 90 balls. It’s not on in this day and age,” he said.
One of the major issues with Babar’s knock was the lack of boundaries as he did not find the fence even once between overs 15.1 and 32.
In a separate video, Shoaib Akhtar raised the same issue as he pointed out that Pakistan is playing outdated cricket in white-ball formats, struggling with slow strike rates and a lack of impact players.
“Pakistan plays very different cricket. Pakistan is not playing the cricket the world is playing. Pakistan has no impact players, the strike rate is very slow, and they don’t play run-of-ball. If they had played run-of-ball today, then the work could have been done. So they play very slowly. And secondly, we leak a lot of runs. They are playing with four bowlers” Akhtar said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAkhtar says Pakistan beating India looks difficult
Due to the defeat against New Zealand, Pakistan’s next game against India has become an almost must-win game for the Men in Green , but Akhtar feels beating India will be “very very difficult” as the Men in Blue look like a stronger team.
“With India, Pakistan have a do-or-die situation. Though India team is very very strong and it looks difficult but I still wish Pakistan the best of luck. Play offensive, try to win and you have no option but to play very aggressively but not like this.
“Go for attack. Wish them best of luck but looks very very difficult now against India but I am still hoping for the best. Let’s see what happens,” added Shoaib Akhtar.
The India vs Pakistan match will be played in Dubai on 23 February (Sunday). Team India play Bangladesh on Thursday (20 February) in their Champions Trophy 2025 opener.