Shoaib Akhter came hard at Pakistan management and called them 'brainless and clueless' after the team's comprehensive six-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai on Sunday. The former Pakistan pacer questioned the team's selection of going with a lot of all-rounders and said the management chased 'intent' when in hindsight, could not even come close to matching the skillset of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill.
On a fairly good batting wicket in Dubai, Pakistan managed to only score 241. Despite going with a deep batting order, Pakistan could not take advantage in the last 10 overs. On the other hand, India chased the target with minimum fuss, with over seven overs to spare.
Virat Kohli's ton was the headline of the chase, which ensured Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan's chances of making it to the semi-final of CT are not in their own hands.
“I am not disappointed at all because I knew what would happen," Akhtar said in a candid video on his X account. “You can’t select five bowlers, the whole world is playing six bowlers… you go with two all-rounders, but this is just brainless and clueless management. I am really disappointed. We can’t blame the kids; they are just like the management—they don’t know what to do. The intent is a different thing, they don’t have the skillsets like Rohit, Virat, and Shubman. Neither they know anything, nor the management. They have just gone to play without any clear direction. No one knows what they should do."
Shoaib Akhter questions Pakistan's mentality in big matches
In another video posted by a former Pakistan pacer, he questioned Pakistan's big-game temperaments and said the team does not have a player like Glenn Maxwell to win a game singlehandedly in any situation.
“This was the batting. We all know the capability of this batting lineup. They can only show intent when they have the skillset. When they don’t have the skillset, how can they do what Glenn Maxwell did (against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup)… just intent isn’t enough. You need intent, skillset, and execution only then can you put up a good score. But this was Pakistan’s batting for you," Akhtar said.
After losing two games to India and New Zealand, Pakistan will play the third and final group stage game against Bangladesh on February 27. They need to beat the Tigers and hope a few other results go their way to qualify for the semi-final.
 Â
