Shoaib Akhtar slams PCB after Asia Cup 2025 final loss, calls it ‘senseless and headless chicken’
The defeat against India in the Asia Cup 2025 final has triggered harsh criticism from Pakistan cricket’s fans and former players. Among the most outspoken is former pacer Shoaib Akhtar, widely known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, who voiced his frustration with Pakistan’s cricket culture during an interview on ARY News.
Akhtar accused Pakistan cricket of favouring compliant players and timid decision-makers over strong personalities and match-winners. “Humey ab shareef bacche chahiyen, jo aath bae curfew lagake ghar pey baith jaayen. Cricket board ko in jaisey bechare, lallu-kattu chahiye. They don’t want strong personalities. This is the reflection of the PCB policies,” he said.
The former fast bowler did not spare team management or captaincy either. “Where will the attitude come when the captain is not inspiring? The captain is a reflection of the board’s choices,” Akhtar said, stressing that timid governance breeds timid cricket.
He also criticised team strategy and selection decisions by the management, calling it “senseless and headless chicken”.
“The team combinations weren’t right, the captaincy wasn’t spot-on, and they weren’t willing to listen to us,” he added.
Notably, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which oversees all affairs of Pakistan’s cricket, is headed by Mohsin Naqvi, who ran away with the Asia Cup trophy to his hotel room in Dubai after India’s win in the finals.
Criticising Naqvi more, he said, “Now there is Mohsin Naqvi, next time koi aur saab aa jayenge. Unless you bring in a visionary, educated man....history will remember if you start this.”
On how to reform Pakistan cricket, Akhtar urged the board to stop filtering out big characters and to back aggressive talent.
Reflecting on his own stance, he said, “From the first day after my retirement, I had decided I will never join PCB, as whoever has gone there has never come out with respect. I work in TV, take money, and sit. These guys don’t want strong personalities.”
Analyzing the final match, Akhtar termed the decision to bowl Haris Rauf in the last over a “big mistake,” calling it a reflection of season-long muddled thinking.
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