Pakistan’s cricket team faced heavy backlash after their loss to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, leading to their early elimination from the tournament. This marked a significant low point for a once unpredictable team, which last claimed a major trophy in 2017. Cricket icon Wasim Akram criticized the team’s performance and dietary choices, stating they play “archaic cricket” and called for drastic changes, including fresh talent. He underscored the team’s poor bowling statistics, highlighting that their performance is worse than that of teams like Oman and the USA. Akram urged for immediate reforms to prepare for future competitions.
Pakistan is furious. The frustration is palpable. As if the defeat to India in the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday wasn’t enough, the Pakistan cricket team faced elimination from the tournament just a day later, with a match still remaining in the group stages. This marks a significant low for Pakistan cricket. Traditionally, Pakistan has been known for its inconsistency, achieving remarkable highs followed by baffling lows. However, in recent years, that element of surprise seems to have vanished from their gameplay.
Their last significant victory came in 2017 when they triumphed over India in the Champions Trophy final. Since then, they have lost every ODI to India. Following this latest blow, Wasim Akram criticized Pakistan’s performance, even commenting on their dietary choices during the India match.
“I think it was during the first or second drinks break, and there was a plate filled with bananas for the players. Itne kele toh bandar bhi nahi khaate (Even monkeys don’t eat that many bananas). And that was their choice of food. If it were our captain Imran Khan, he would have scolded me over it,” Akram remarked on a post-match analysis show.
Wasim Akram-“Aaj match ke daoraan bowlers ke liye banana’s ki 2 trays aayi. Mein kaha ennay kele te baandar nahi khaande”
Human evolution is from Monkey @wasimakramlive Pakistan Cricket Going In that Direction Only #ChampionsTrophy2025 #INDvsPAK
pic.twitter.com/PKcEzdkJaN
— (@Stroke_Geniuss) February 24, 2025
Akram criticized the Pakistan side for playing ‘outdated cricket’ in an era where the pace of the game has dramatically increased.
“Drastic measures are necessary. We have been playing outdated white-ball cricket for far too long,” Wasim Akram stated on the show “Dressing Room,” following the team’s loss to India in Dubai. “This situation needs to change. Introduce fearless cricketers and fresh talent into the team. If it requires making five or six changes, then do it.
“It’s alright if you continue losing for the next six months, but begin building the team for the World T20 2026 now,” he emphasized.
Akram pointed out alarming statistics, putting the Pakistan bowling unit on blast for its consistent failures internationally.
“Enough is enough. You have elevated them to star status. In the last five ODIs, Pakistan bowlers have only taken 24 wickets at an average of 60. That’s an average of 60 runs given per wicket.
“Our average is even worse than that of Oman and the USA. Among the 14 teams playing ODIs, Pakistan’s bowling average is the second worst,” he remarked.
Topics mentioned in this article