Shoaib Akhtar Critiques Pakistan's ODI Performance Against West Indies

In a recent critique, former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his disappointment over Pakistan's performance in the ODI series against West Indies. He holds head coach Mike Hesson accountable for the team's failures and emphasizes the need for quality players in the lineup. Additionally, Akhtar criticizes senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for not stepping up to finish matches. This analysis sheds light on the underlying issues within the team and raises questions about their strategies moving forward.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 15, 2025, 07:00 IST

Pakistan's Disgraceful Loss: Who's to Blame?

Shoaib Akhtar Critiques PAK Head Coach: Recently, the West Indies defeated Pakistan in a three-match ODI series, taking a 2-1 lead. This marks the first time in 34 years that Pakistan has lost an ODI series to the West Indies. Although Pakistan won the first match, they faced significant defeats in the subsequent two games, marking one of the most humiliating losses for Rizwan and his team. Shoaib Akhtar has now pointed out who he believes is responsible for this defeat.

Accountability for Pakistan's Defeat

During the show 'Game On', Shoaib Akhtar expressed his views on Pakistan's loss, attributing the blame to head coach Mike Hesson. Frustrated, he stated, 'Mike Hesson is a competent T20 coach, but I question his abilities in ODIs. If you don't give quality players a chance in this format, this is the outcome. Without good all-rounders, batsmen, bowlers, and spinners, you won't survive 50 overs.'

Criticism of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Shoaib Akhtar also criticized senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan following the series loss against the West Indies. He remarked, 'You have played so much cricket; you should be trying to finish matches yourself. When Babar bats, he looks good, but he needs to accelerate and finish the game. If you've scored 50 runs, the next 50 should come quickly. You've already spent an hour at the crease and understood the pitch; now you need to show some urgency.'