The Pakistan cricket team’s poor performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 has become a topic of discussion among the former cricketers as well as cricket fans and many of them are demanding that the PCB should take drastic steps in order to restructure the team.
One of the Pakistani legends, Wasim Akram was also very upset with the Pakistan team’s performance and he even went on to say that 6-7 players of the current team who are failing to perform continuously should be dropped from the team and fresh talent should be introduced. Expressing frustration over Pakistan’s consistent struggles in white-ball cricket, he urged the selectors to make bold decisions and introduce fearless cricketers who could revitalise the team.
This statement hasn’t gone well with the former Pak cricketer Shahid Afridi and recently while speaking on a local channel, he reacted to Wasim Akram’s statement. Shahid Afridi, while acknowledging the emotional toll of Pakistan’s loss to India, strongly disagreed with Wasim Akram’s call for sweeping changes. He questioned whether Pakistan had suitable replacements ready on the bench or if the domestic circuit had produced players of the same caliber as those being criticised. He further challenged whether the country’s cricket academies had adequately groomed young talent to step in and perform at the highest level.
Pakistan’s campaign ended in disappointment as they failed to secure a single victory, with their final group-stage match against Bangladesh abandoned due to rain. The frustration among fans has intensified, with many calling for a complete restructuring of the country’s cricket system, from the administration to the coaching staff, following yet another early exit from an ICC tournament.
This latest setback marks the third consecutive ICC event where Pakistan has been eliminated in the group stages, following similar outcomes in the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup 2023. While teams around the world have embraced a fearless, aggressive brand of cricket, Pakistan appeared stuck in a rigid approach, lacking urgency and adaptability. Their struggles were evident in the staggering number of dot balls played—161 against New Zealand in Rawalpindi and 147 against India in Dubai—highlighting a deeper issue that extends beyond just selection.
The debate between Afridi and Akram reflects the larger crisis within Pakistan cricket, where concerns over talent development, strategy and mindset continue to dominate discussions as the team looks ahead to future challenges.
