It was a night of frustration and finger-pointing after Pakistan’s heavy defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo. Among the loudest voices was former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who did not hold back in criticising the team and the management.
Pakistan suffered a crushing 61-run loss to India on Sunday, February 15, at the R Premadasa Stadium. India posted a strong total of 175, while Pakistan were bowled out for just 114 in reply. With this win, India now hold a dominant 8-1 head-to-head record over Pakistan in T20 World Cup matches.
Speaking on a news channel’s show, Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan never looked in control of the match. He expressed disappointment over the team’s overall performance, including the pace and impact of Shaheen Afridi. According to Shoaib Akhtar, modern cricket demands higher intensity and players who can handle pressure situations better.
He also claimed that Pakistan cricket has not been properly developed over the past 15 to 20 years. Shoaib Akhtar said there was a time when Pakistan could compete strongly with India but now even dreaming of victory seems difficult.
The former pacer sharply criticised Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, calling him incompetent and jaahil (ignorant). Shoaib Akhtar questioned how the team could function properly under leadership that, in his view, lacks cricketing understanding. He also took aim at Babar Azam, suggesting that he has been overly praised despite not consistently delivering match-winning performances.
Mohsin Naqvi was present in Colombo for the high-profile clash and was also expected to hold discussions with ICC officials following a brief boycott controversy that had earlier threatened the marquee encounter. Senior PCB officials, including PSL CEO Salman Naseer and Sumair Ahmed, accompanied him to Sri Lanka for the Group A fixture, which began in the late evening.
For many fans, the defeat was not just a loss, but a sign of deeper problems within Pakistan cricket.
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