‘You were a fraud from the beginning…’ - Former Pakistan pacer launches brutal attack on Babar Azam after defeat against India

Former Pakistan skipper and star batter Babar Azam failed again to the expectations of his side and the Pakistan cricket fans. He couldn’t perform in the high-octane clash against the arch-rivals India in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya dismissed him at an individual score of just 23 runs off 26 balls, with five fours.

After Pakistan’s defeat against New Zealand in the tournament opener, Babar Azam was on the receiving end of harsh criticism from the former Pakistan cricketers and the game experts. He played a sluggish knock of 64 runs off 90 balls with a miserable strike rate of 71.11.

In the same line of events, former legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar launched a brutal attack while criticizing Babar Azam for his poor performance in the must-win game for Pakistan against India.

“Your thought process is wrong” – Shoaib Akhtar on Babar Azam

Shoaib Akhtar also questioned the psyche of some cricket experts who compare Babar Azam with the Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli. Akhtar came up with some hard-and-fast-lined remarks while criticizing Babar Azam in a tv show.

“We always compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. Now tell me who is the hero of Virat Kohli? Sachin Tendulkar and he has scored 100 centuries and Virat is chasing his legacy. Who is Babar Azam’s hero? Tuk tuk (Without naming any cricketer,” said Akhtar on PTV’s show ‘Game On Hai’.

“You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning. I would not even wish to talk about the Pakistan cricket team. I am only dong this because I am getting paid,” he added later.

Notably, Pakistan have been virtually knocked out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025’s semi-final race unless and until a miraculous mathematical turnaround of events takes place in the other matches.

The Men in Green will now face Bangladesh in their third and last group-stage fixture in the tournament’s current edition.