Shoaib Akhtar Ridicules Pakistan After Asia Cup Defeat To India: 'We Are Playing Club-Level Cricket'

Last Updated:September 15, 2025, 09:07 IST

Shoaib Akhtar slammed Pakistan after their Asia Cup loss to India, citing poor quality and professionalism.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar tore into the Pakistan cricket team after their humiliating seven-wicket loss to India at the Asia Cup on Sunday, describing the squad as one that lacks the quality to compete with top international sides.

India Dominates From Start To Finish

India’s bowlers dismantled Pakistan’s batting order, restricting them to just 127/9 in their 20 overs. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Axar Patel led the charge, tightening the screws with disciplined spells.

Pakistan’s innings was saved from complete embarrassment only by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who struck a spirited 33 off 16 balls, including a handful of sixes, to drag the score to some respectability.

But the Men in Blue made light work of the chase. Suryakumar Yadav’s 37-ball 47 guided India to the target inside just 15.5 overs, sealing a comfortable victory that highlighted the gulf in class between the two rivals.

“We are playing club-level cricket"

Akhtar, never one to mince words, expressed his frustration at what he saw as a lack of skill, fight, and professionalism in Pakistan’s performance.

“It was a disappointing performance on all fronts. I think Saim Ayub was the pick of the bowlers. And it seems like we (Pakistan) have found ourselves a proper spinner finally, at 35 years of age," Akhtar said with heavy sarcasm.

The Rawalpindi Express went on to highlight the gap between Pakistan and world cricket’s elite.

“Of course, we got to witness and understand that there’s a vast difference in the quality of cricket that Pakistan plays compared to the rest of the world. Most of the other teams play a high level of cricket, while we are playing club-level cricket."

Batting Collapse Under Fire

The former fast bowler reserved his sharpest criticism for Pakistan’s batters, who once again collapsed under the pressure of an Indian bowling unit.

“Our quality of batting was on full display — or rather, the lack thereof. Suryakumar Yadav was just playing sweeps and cuts to his heart’s content, having his way with our bowlers," he fumed.

Akhtar went on to ridicule the fact that Afridi, a lower-order bowler, outshone the top order with the bat.

“If you are going to tell me that playing the Indian spinners was very tricky, then why was Shaheen Shah Afridi able to hit 33 off 16 balls, with a handful of sixes?"

“Only Better Than Associates"

In his final assessment, Akhtar declared that Pakistan simply did not belong in the same league as cricket’s top nations.

“We are lacking quality. We are not a team that can compete with the likes of South Africa, India, England, or Australia. We’re just a bit better than the associate members, is all."

Get latest Cricket news, live score and match results on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!

News cricket Shoaib Akhtar Ridicules Pakistan After Asia Cup Defeat To India: 'We Are Playing Club-Level Cricket'

Click here to read article