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“You (Babar Azam) were a fraud from the beginning”: Shoaib Akhtar

There is something so petulant and small minded about Pakistani cricket culture that it makes me nauseas. Both ex and current players go at each other in ways that are just unbecoming of sportspeople and media pundits alike. They sit there in their studios with pens in their hands as if that makes them intellectuals when they are actually illiterate buffoons. True Pak cricket has a lot of flaws and yes there is a long way to go before we see some improvements. However you can be constructive in your debate instead of hurling insults.
 
Abid Z said:
There is something so petulant and small minded about Pakistani cricket culture that it makes me nauseas. Both ex and current players go at each other in ways that are just unbecoming of sportspeople and media pundits alike. They sit there in their studios with pens in their hands as if that makes them intellectuals when they are actually illiterate buffoons. True Pak cricket has a lot of flaws and yes there is a long way to go before we see some improvements. However you can be constructive in your debate instead of hurling insults.
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They’ve given them a long enough rope. A lot of these pundits have refrained from insulting them for a while now - even with failure after failure. Not a single pak player would get in to the Afghanistan team and most would struggle to get in to the Zimbabwe team. That is how bad they are. If nice constructive criticism didn’t work, it’s time - it’s become intolerable. I welcome it - time to put the big boy pants on and suck it up.
 
Savak said:
Let's be honest, the bowling and fielding quality in the PSL is not that great. I will not put much value in his PSL performances. Vast majority of PSL performers have been found wanting in international cricket.

Kohli was mostly playing against very inferior Pakistani spinners. Sarfaraz plays spin much better than Babar because he uses the sweep shots to put the spinners off guard and that pressurizes them into changing their lengths.
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You’re responding to something I never said. I just said he plays aerial shots in PSL. Not talking about success.

Sweep is not necessary to dominate spinners. If Kohli bothers you, even though he dominated test cricket at home for a long time on rank turners WITHOUT sweep shots, then look at Dravid, Kallis, and Yousuf. they hardly ever played sweep shots.

Babar’s problem is mental first and foremost. He lacks heart.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, while speaking to a local channel:

"Such big players like Wasim Akram-saying such disgusting things? And people around him are laughing. They should be ashamed. Shoaib Akhtar, such a big player-you are comparing Pakistan's players with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? Wasim ji, you are sitting there and making money, no? Go back to your country and conduct a camp. I want to see which of you greats can help Pakistan win a World Cup. If not, resign."

"If I go there (to Pakistan), I will make the team better within a year. You will all remember me. It's all about passion."

"Talking big while sitting in the commentary box doesn't make a difference."

"So many Pakistan players are there, sitting outside and talking about the team -- it doesn't paint a good picture. Have you ever seen ex-Indian players using such harsh words for their own team? It has a big effect. At a time when your players are low on confidence and the team's morale is going down, if they hear what you all are saying, they will be under even more pressure. You are all legends-they will listen to you."

"I am saying this to everyone. All these players came because of Imran Khan. Today, is there anyone like him to mentor youngsters? Tell Wasim Akram ji, Waqar Younis ji, and Shoaib Akhtar ji-you keep talking about talent. Pakistan is full of talent. You were also identified once. Someone helped you become good cricketers."

"I don't like anyone from any country using such words for their own players."
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Facts.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, while speaking to a local channel:

"Such big players like Wasim Akram-saying such disgusting things? And people around him are laughing. They should be ashamed. Shoaib Akhtar, such a big player-you are comparing Pakistan's players with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? Wasim ji, you are sitting there and making money, no? Go back to your country and conduct a camp. I want to see which of you greats can help Pakistan win a World Cup. If not, resign."

"If I go there (to Pakistan), I will make the team better within a year. You will all remember me. It's all about passion."

"Talking big while sitting in the commentary box doesn't make a difference."

"So many Pakistan players are there, sitting outside and talking about the team -- it doesn't paint a good picture. Have you ever seen ex-Indian players using such harsh words for their own team? It has a big effect. At a time when your players are low on confidence and the team's morale is going down, if they hear what you all are saying, they will be under even more pressure. You are all legends-they will listen to you."

"I am saying this to everyone. All these players came because of Imran Khan. Today, is there anyone like him to mentor youngsters? Tell Wasim Akram ji, Waqar Younis ji, and Shoaib Akhtar ji-you keep talking about talent. Pakistan is full of talent. You were also identified once. Someone helped you become good cricketers."

"I don't like anyone from any country using such words for their own players."
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Says the guy who constantly make vindictive comments about MSD who won three tournaments for country.
 
TheSultan said:
They’ve given them a long enough rope. A lot of these pundits have refrained from insulting them for a while now - even with failure after failure. Not a single pak player would get in to the Afghanistan team and most would struggle to get in to the Zimbabwe team. That is how bad they are. If nice constructive criticism didn’t work, it’s time - it’s become intolerable. I welcome it - time to put the big boy pants on and suck it up.
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You are missing the point entirely which is kind of sad really.
Criticism help us improve. Critique helps us reflect and reform. Insults however berate and degrade the whole system. They point to a rottenness and small mindedness in the viewership, punditry and the team. Focus on individuals divides and disparages the team. It suggests that all the problems are due to one person.

This simply should not be the way. A persons cricketing failures should not be used to bolster a pundits you tube clicks. This is the small mindedness and petulance that drags Pak cricket down.

There are indeed many issues in certain players technique. There’s def a mental issue and ability to soak up pressure on the field. Perhaps the right talent isn’t developed in the right way. But a pundits role is to offer insights that an average guy on the street might not analyse. If everybody just sits and hurls insults however is this any better than a village mob?

Pak has to do a lot more all round to improve its cricket but bad punditry, self serving jesters need to understand the responsibility to the viewership
 
Rana said:
How could you want that for Pakistan when you continue to advocate for Rizwan as a batter?

It’s very suspicious. It makes no sens
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Rana said:
How could you want that for Pakistan when you continue to advocate for Rizwan as a batter?

It’s very suspicious. It makes no sense?
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There is absolutely no comparison between Rizwan and Shakeel. Rizwan has played some wonderful knocks, few match winning knocks in LOIs. Rizwan has a good ODI and T20Is record too. While Saud after playing 19 matches still to play a significant innings of mention and average only 27. Still no one is ready to replace Rizwan and perform better than him .

Yes ,if you compare Pakistani batsmen with Indians , Australians ,South Africans they won't match.
 
Abid Z said:
You are missing the point entirely which is kind of sad really.
Criticism help us improve. Critique helps us reflect and reform. Insults however berate and degrade the whole system. They point to a rottenness and small mindedness in the viewership, punditry and the team. Focus on individuals divides and disparages the team. It suggests that all the problems are due to one person.

This simply should not be the way. A persons cricketing failures should not be used to bolster a pundits you tube clicks. This is the small mindedness and petulance that drags Pak cricket down.

There are indeed many issues in certain players technique. There’s def a mental issue and ability to soak up pressure on the field. Perhaps the right talent isn’t developed in the right way. But a pundits role is to offer insights that an average guy on the street might not analyse. If everybody just sits and hurls insults however is this any better than a village mob?

Pak has to do a lot more all round to improve its cricket but bad punditry, self serving jesters need to understand the responsibility to the viewership
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Sorry bro, but that is all blah blah blah.

Shoaib has been fairly measured recently, but this has gone on too long. Whether he says it nicely or not makes no difference to these shameless players. They play their usual selfish games. So there is a level of satisfaction in these insults.

Babar has built his reputation on paid social media pushing his useless stats. If you’re going about things in such a deceptive manner, don’t cry when someone calls you a fraud - that is what he is.
 
Mohraheem said:
He is right! Everyone in pakistan wants to do tuktuk! We need to kick Misbah’s Relatives freinds off PCB
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When you look at Pak teams, they are so turgid and meak when Fakhar or Saim are out who are both hit n miss. There is not one player you think ok will come in and can take the game away.

Just look at the Indian game, their prime bowler is out but the players still keck their pants and go into tuk tuk mode on the false premise of "taking the game deep". I mean show a bit of balls and at least attack.

All these losers need to be booted, some proper fitness standards imposed and develop batting for the modern era. At this point, Pak cricket is a sunken ship no amount of learning by Riz is going to save it.

Rizwan’s "learning" phase is never-ending. Might as well give him a university degree in it at this point.
 
This fraud team defeated Australia in Australia and SA in SA. Something the previous Pakistan teams rarely did. We are champions at over exaggerating.

If Fakhar & Saim were fit and Faheem wasn’t politically forced into the team at the expense of Sufiyan, we would have put a better show.

If a modern team like England who had all bases covered can get knocked out then any team can get knocked out.
 
JaDed said:
Guess Joginder is better than Shoaib @Major coz this is weird ICC logic only Pakistani fans have
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*only Major has

But I'm glad you pointed this out because Major always does a grand job of exposing his lack of intelligence.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, while speaking to a local channel:

"Such big players like Wasim Akram-saying such disgusting things? And people around him are laughing. They should be ashamed. Shoaib Akhtar, such a big player-you are comparing Pakistan's players with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? Wasim ji, you are sitting there and making money, no? Go back to your country and conduct a camp. I want to see which of you greats can help Pakistan win a World Cup. If not, resign."

"If I go there (to Pakistan), I will make the team better within a year. You will all remember me. It's all about passion."

"Talking big while sitting in the commentary box doesn't make a difference."

"So many Pakistan players are there, sitting outside and talking about the team -- it doesn't paint a good picture. Have you ever seen ex-Indian players using such harsh words for their own team? It has a big effect. At a time when your players are low on confidence and the team's morale is going down, if they hear what you all are saying, they will be under even more pressure. You are all legends-they will listen to you."

"I am saying this to everyone. All these players came because of Imran Khan. Today, is there anyone like him to mentor youngsters? Tell Wasim Akram ji, Waqar Younis ji, and Shoaib Akhtar ji-you keep talking about talent. Pakistan is full of talent. You were also identified once. Someone helped you become good cricketers."

"I don't like anyone from any country using such words for their own players."
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Wasim Akram, while speaking on a show on a local sports media outlet:

"People still on and off either criticize me or have a go at me that all he does is talk and nothing else. When I see Pakistan coaches - I see Waqar here, who has been sacked quite a few times after becoming a coach - and their condition. Aap log badtameezi karte hain (You guys disrespect them), I cannot tolerate it."
 
yograj singh just posted a video where he is saying give me 1 year with pakistan team i will make them world champions again i have a good feeling he can turn it around he is a punjabi warrior which pakistani players needs pcb should get him as soon as possible.
 
Shoaib should be ashamed of his words. He himself was labeled a liar and an exaggerator by his best friends in India. Previously, he accused Sachin of fearing his bowling and Wasim of not selecting him out of jealousy and later on took a uturn. He should not make himself a laughingstock.
A pindi boy will always remains a typical pindi boy.
 
Salman Butt during a program on a local TV channel:

"If I say something wrong, if Wasim Bhai says something wrong, if Javed Bhai or even Imran Khan Sahib says something wrong, then it remains wrong. Just because someone says it doesn’t make it right."

"Arguments should be based on facts and original information, not just on what cricketers or politicians say. So what if a cricketer or a politician said something? Who in this country hasn’t made a wrong statement?"

"Even if Shoaib Akhtar was disheartened, even if he was upset, he [Shoaib Akhtar] is one of the best cricketers Pakistan has ever produced. I think if he reconsiders what he said, he will realize it was in the heat of the moment."

"Babar is struggling with form, and I think we have gotten into his head. He doesn’t come from an academic background, so maybe he takes time to gauge and understand things. But he is still better than all the available players we have, and we have cut him down with all this talk."

"He is not a good captain, so we took the captaincy away from him. But look at his batting for Pakistan over a period of time. How consistent has he been? Is that not worth acknowledging? He is not Kohli, he is not Root, he is not Kane Williamson, but he is the best that we have."
 
FearlessRoar said:
Wasim Akram, while speaking on a show on a local sports media outlet:

"People still on and off either criticize me or have a go at me that all he does is talk and nothing else. When I see Pakistan coaches - I see Waqar here, who has been sacked quite a few times after becoming a coach - and their condition. Aap log badtameezi karte hain (You guys disrespect them), I cannot tolerate it."
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Wasim Akram is a Grifter!

I have respect for Waqar Younis that at least he has put himself forward to try to help Pakistan Cricket, he has failed because maybe lacks the skills but at least he has tried. Btw, Waqar has already been tried and shouldn't be the Coach!
 
Akhtar got absolutely pummeled by Hafeez and Malik on a show recently, and honestly his attitude clearly shows one of the reasons why Pakistan regressed so much in recent times.

Malik and Hafeez rightly pointed out how Pakistan only won ICC tournaments in 2009 and 2017, and the all-conquering mega super-stars in the 90s couldn’t do much after Imran Khan’s genius in 1992.

Akhtar feebly pointed out that the 90s players were the main reason for 70-odd victories against India, and it looked very clear he was rattled.

All these ex-players from the 90s just sit on tv and bash the current lot for having no talent, while having done worse than them in ICC tournaments when they were playing. At a time when only Australia was really strong and South Africa was a close second, they were content on bashing mediocre teams like India, New Zealand, England etc yet also managed to start off the streak that India has in ICC tournaments right now. Got smashed by Australia and South Africa more often than not, even at home.

They achieved literally nothing with all the talent at their disposal and it would suit them better to shut up about how good they actually were and focus on making Pakistan cricket better moving forward.

The only good thing about them was they were entertaining to watch, while the current lot is just putting off casual fans.
 
hoshiarpurexpress said:
Babar is a fraud king. The Real king consistently delivers on the big stage.
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Babar Azam may be all they say but not a fraud..He didn't do cheating like Salman Butt or aamir or Akhtar himself who were banned from playing cricket for year(s)..all he doing is playing selfishly for himself..his style of batting may be suited for 90s but not the modern era..if a term has to be given to him, we can call him ethical hacker..who just hack runs and ensure his records and ranking are high..
 
Calling him a fraud from the beginning is not right. He is struggling for 2-3 years and has been a passenger in the team b ut now he has been rightfully dropped from the T20 squad. Let's see what the new team has got after getting rid of 'fraud'.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Wasim Akram, while speaking on a show on a local sports media outlet:

"People still on and off either criticize me or have a go at me that all he does is talk and nothing else. When I see Pakistan coaches - I see Waqar here, who has been sacked quite a few times after becoming a coach - and their condition. Aap log badtameezi karte hain (You guys disrespect them), I cannot tolerate it."
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When Wasim talks like this, it freshens up my wounds of his own wrong doings. Disrespect my foot! He needs to learn not to react to every Tom Dick & Harry.
 
gazza619 said:
When Wasim talks like this, it freshens up my wounds of his own wrong doings. Disrespect my foot! He needs to learn not to react to every Tom Dick & Harry.
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I loved Wasim as a cricketer, him along with Sachin and Warne were best.

In analyst role I also find him very balanced and non biased. But he is very easy to sway.

I remember he lost his cool after someone commented on his armpit hair on Instagram. He is in his 50s but sometimes acts like someone is their 70s when provoked by online trolls.
 
IM NOT YOU said:
There's no comparison between these 2 players. The only people who compare them are die-hard Pakistani loyal supporters.

I can assure you, nobody outside of Pakistan thinks these two players belong in the same sentence.
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Don't forget, some at PP was comparing UMAR AKMAL v KOHLI at one point ... Umar > Kohli back then apprently and would have ended his career > Kohli :LOL:. So comparing Babar to Kohli is a step up atleast lol
 
Babar deserves all the criticism for how he has fumbled his career trajectory. However lets not act like Shohaib did justice to his potential either. Not even 250 wickets in a 12 year long career and a Worldcup resume worse than Babars. Shaheen has nearly 400 in 6 years while carrying the bowling attack in every single worldcup
 
RizwanT20Champ said:
Shoaib Akhtar is a joker who spoke crap about Pak players and PCB on Indian channels and shows for likes. Babar has achieved far more for Pak than Shoaib has and is the only captain to win a WC match vs India.
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I love Babar as much as you do, but you can't be talking like that about Shoaib bhai. Gode tudwa ke, injection laga ke 100mph daali hai bande ne, show some respect bro.
 
Savak said:
Indians have more respect and love for Shoaib. Babar is a complete over rated joke in their view.
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I wouldn't call Babar a joke, just a highly overrated batsmen who doesn't worry me in the slightest.

Shoaib, on the other hand, is a core memory.

Even when he was bowling to Indian batsmen you ended up swept along in his wake.

The sight of him on that long, long run up, brutal as a tank yet graceful as a cheetah, the crowd going absolutely bonkers, screaming for blood.... Man.

He wasn't consistent, promised more than he delivered, but when firing on all cylinders he was a force of nature, the essence of fast bowling.
 
Savak said:
Indians have more respect and love for Shoaib. Babar is a complete over rated joke in their view.
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Nobody cares what Indians think except for those who are obsessed.

For anyone, even with 50% vision, can see his body language in big games. He idolized an LOI choker Misbah, enough said. His presence in the team is TOXIC. He inherited fear and this is what he feeds. People don't understand how one toxic influence can destroy the entire chemistry of a team.
 
CricVet said:
Nobody cares what Indians think except for those who are obsessed.

For anyone, even with 50% vision, can see his body language in big games. He idolized an LOI choker Misbah, enough said. His presence in the team is TOXIC. He inherited fear and this is what he feeds. People don't understand how one toxic influence can destroy the entire chemistry of a team.
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Who idolized Misbah?
 
Not everything in cricket can be measured with money and not every cricketing act is subject to objective analysis.

Shoaib Akhtar was not merely a fast bowler. He was a "phenomenon".

That Boeing run up - his hair flowing against the wind - the bowling action - the release - the terror it caused - among other things - he was made for the modern-day television. He conjures up awe, fear and respect.

I remember Shoaib single handedly winning test series in New Zealand and South Africa. His exploits in Kolkata are stuff of legends dismissing Rahul and Sachin in successive deliveries. I still remember Stephen Fleming saying - there's sometimes you can do absolutely nothing against that sort of pace - because you simply do not get to experience it anywhere else.

Shoaib was not a perfect cricketer - but who is?

I cannot imagine the sheer physical pressure that is exerted on a human body when flinging a ball at 100 mph.

Human bodies are not designed to bowl at those speeds. He did it. It was inevitable he was going to breakdown.

Do people seriously expected him to play 100 tests with that level of physical exertion?

Shoaib needs to be remembered not for his stats -but for his impact - he put bums on seats. He was the cynosure of all eyes when he was on the field - and this was in a Pakistan team which was filled with superstars in the late 90's.

Look at any random YouTube clips of the top, elite batsmen from Sachin, Ponting, Hayden, Sehwag, Gary Kirsten, Lara - they all admit to Shoaib being the fastest bowler that they had faced. By implication they admitted that they had to raise their own game to match that extra speed.

Shoaib's off field antics are something that I am not a fan of.

What I am a fan of - is his unmistakable impact he left on fast bowling.

If ever a book of fast bowlers is written - today, 100 years from now or 1000 years later - Shoaib will have his own chapter in that book. That was his impact on fast bowling.
 
hur rizvi said:
Shoaib taking tendulkar and dravids middle stump at Eden gardens is greater than entire extended Akmal family
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Wow, I just read this post from a Pakistani on reddit (and was posted here)

You know , Shoaib Akhtar never lets you forget that one yorker to Dravid or the time he bowled Sachin. He repeats it like a badge of honor, as if one delivery defined an era. But that’s the essence of Pakistan cricket — obsessed with moments, while ignoring the full picture. Sachin and Dravid, the supposed victims, never bragged about one ball. They spoke through 20,000 runs, centuries in Adelaide, match-saving marathons in Kolkata, and years of consistency. Shoaib remembers a flash. Sachin and Dravid built legacies.

And that’s the contrast between Pakistan and India. Pakistan will forever romanticize Sharjah sixes, Wasim’s reverse swing, Waqar’s yorkers, or that one Champions Trophy final. They did have golden eras — Imran lifting 1992, the Wasim-Waqar-Shoaib storm in the 90s. But greatness is not a lightning strike; it is a lighthouse. And India has been that lighthouse. World Cups? India leads Pakistan 8-0. T20 World Cups? India dominates. Asia Cups? India leads. ICC trophies? India has more in the cabinet, with multiple finals appearances. Pakistan clings to 1992 and 2017 like family heirlooms; India keeps adding fresh chapters every decade.

Look globally and the gap widens. Pakistan’s record in Australia, England, and South Africa is littered with collapses and inconsistency. India, brick by brick, turned weaknesses into strengths: winning in Australia twice, leading series in England, and creating a talent factory through the IPL. Pakistan’s brilliance was mercurial, often undone by politics and fragility. India’s rise has been systematic, sustainable, and relentless.

So was Pakistan ever “world-beating”? On a given day, yes — a Shoaib yorker at 100 mph, a Wasim spell that bent physics. But those were flashes of lightning. India became the entire sky. Shoaib will always talk about that one ball. India will always point to the scoreboard.
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Sachin fan said:
Wow, I just read this post from a Pakistani on reddit (and was posted here)
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True India’s last decade and a half dominance over Pakistan is entirely due to major systemic improvements.

Pakistan produced great cricketers but not having a professional system was always going to create significant gap between them and top teams in world cricket.

Pakistan cricket story is increasingly looking like their field hockey history
 
leonidas_alexandar said:
Not everything in cricket can be measured with money and not every cricketing act is subject to objective analysis.

Shoaib Akhtar was not merely a fast bowler. He was a "phenomenon".

That Boeing run up - his hair flowing against the wind - the bowling action - the release - the terror it caused - among other things - he was made for the modern-day television. He conjures up awe, fear and respect.

I remember Shoaib single handedly winning test series in New Zealand and South Africa. His exploits in Kolkata are stuff of legends dismissing Rahul and Sachin in successive deliveries. I still remember Stephen Fleming saying - there's sometimes you can do absolutely nothing against that sort of pace - because you simply do not get to experience it anywhere else.

Shoaib was not a perfect cricketer - but who is?

I cannot imagine the sheer physical pressure that is exerted on a human body when flinging a ball at 100 mph.

Human bodies are not designed to bowl at those speeds. He did it. It was inevitable he was going to breakdown.

Do people seriously expected him to play 100 tests with that level of physical exertion?

Shoaib needs to be remembered not for his stats -but for his impact - he put bums on seats. He was the cynosure of all eyes when he was on the field - and this was in a Pakistan team which was filled with superstars in the late 90's.

Look at any random YouTube clips of the top, elite batsmen from Sachin, Ponting, Hayden, Sehwag, Gary Kirsten, Lara - they all admit to Shoaib being the fastest bowler that they had faced. By implication they admitted that they had to raise their own game to match that extra speed.

Shoaib's off field antics are something that I am not a fan of.

What I am a fan of - is his unmistakable impact he left on fast bowling.

If ever a book of fast bowlers is written - today, 100 years from now or 1000 years later - Shoaib will have his own chapter in that book. That was his impact on fast bowling.
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I remember when Shoaib was injured and ruled out of the 2006 ODI home series against India. He played the first 3 test matches and he didn't take many wickets thanks to the dead pitches but in the third test where Pakistan finally grew a pair and prepared a green fast pacy bouncy pitch, Asif wrecked havoc. Shoaib picked 3 wickets and the most important wickets of Sehwag and Dravid, two players who were nightmares for Pakistani bowlers. Shoaib softened up the Indians with his relentless pace and bounce which made Asif even more potent at the other end.

When Shoaib was ruled out of the ODI series afterwards. There were huge celebrations in the Indian camp and a lot of commentators publicly made statements "Without Shoaib, its advantage India" and Asif alone could not pressurize the Indian batting line up on his own in that series.
 
I said this many years ago ago on pp, but posters attacked me here because of my nationality

Tendulkars hero was gavaskar Kohli followed Tendulkar and now next gen is following kohli.

When pakistanis made Imran their hero they got wasim and Waqar when they became people’s hero, the next gen produced akhtar, then Afridi became hero, result is zimbabar and rizwan, now rizbabar are heroes, next kya aayega iska upar wala hi malik hai
 
cricketjoshila said:
I said this many years ago ago on pp, but posters attacked me here because of my nationality

Tendulkars hero was gavaskar Kohli followed Tendulkar and now next gen is following kohli.

When pakistanis made Imran their hero they got wasim and Waqar when they became people’s hero, the next gen produced akhtar, then Afridi became hero, result is zimbabar and rizwan, now rizbabar are heroes, next kya aayega iska upar wala hi malik hai
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Fair point we definitely have no succession planning..and are always savage to our past heroes.
 
cricketjoshila said:
I said this many years ago ago on pp, but posters attacked me here because of my nationality

Tendulkars hero was gavaskar Kohli followed Tendulkar and now next gen is following kohli.

When pakistanis made Imran their hero they got wasim and Waqar when they became people’s hero, the next gen produced akhtar, then Afridi became hero, result is zimbabar and rizwan, now rizbabar are heroes, next kya aayega iska upar wala hi malik hai
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Saim- bits and pieces cricketer, opener turned ace spinner, Afridi re invented albeit in a mini me size
 
leonidas_alexandar said:
Not everything in cricket can be measured with money and not every cricketing act is subject to objective analysis.

Shoaib Akhtar was not merely a fast bowler. He was a "phenomenon".

That Boeing run up - his hair flowing against the wind - the bowling action - the release - the terror it caused - among other things - he was made for the modern-day television. He conjures up awe, fear and respect.

I remember Shoaib single handedly winning test series in New Zealand and South Africa. His exploits in Kolkata are stuff of legends dismissing Rahul and Sachin in successive deliveries. I still remember Stephen Fleming saying - there's sometimes you can do absolutely nothing against that sort of pace - because you simply do not get to experience it anywhere else.

Shoaib was not a perfect cricketer - but who is?

I cannot imagine the sheer physical pressure that is exerted on a human body when flinging a ball at 100 mph.

Human bodies are not designed to bowl at those speeds. He did it. It was inevitable he was going to breakdown.

Do people seriously expected him to play 100 tests with that level of physical exertion?

Shoaib needs to be remembered not for his stats -but for his impact - he put bums on seats. He was the cynosure of all eyes when he was on the field - and this was in a Pakistan team which was filled with superstars in the late 90's.

Look at any random YouTube clips of the top, elite batsmen from Sachin, Ponting, Hayden, Sehwag, Gary Kirsten, Lara - they all admit to Shoaib being the fastest bowler that they had faced. By implication they admitted that they had to raise their own game to match that extra speed.

Shoaib's off field antics are something that I am not a fan of.

What I am a fan of - is his unmistakable impact he left on fast bowling.

If ever a book of fast bowlers is written - today, 100 years from now or 1000 years later - Shoaib will have his own chapter in that book. That was his impact on fast bowling.
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Superb post 👏🏼 👏🏼
 
RizwanT20Champ said:
Shoaib Akhtar is a joker who spoke crap about Pak players and PCB on Indian channels and shows for likes. Babar has achieved far more for Pak than Shoaib has and is the only captain to win a WC match vs India.
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Hang on to that one dream forever.

Because Babar will be a footnote soon.

While Shoaib will be etched forever in pioneers of speed demons like Brett Lee.

And will never be forgotten.
 
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Babar is a fraud as Shoaib Akhtar said because despite being a limited batsman m, who relies on meaningless runs against minnows to stat pad, he’s created a major hype about himself through his online hired fan base coordinated by Saya group. Him and his buddies have infiltrated Pakistan cricket and systematically destroyed it from within while selling a narrative of fake stats.
 
Babar was a fraud, but Saim is not??? Salman is not??? Shadab?? Sahheen??

Who is not a fraud here... Please tell me?
 
Unfortunately it's the truth

Babar was over hyped to moon but in reality he is just bang average player

He is only good at his stupid PR and stupid essays of his father
 
Dr_Bassim said:
Hang on to that one dream forever.

Because Babar will be a footnote soon.

While Shoaib will be etched forever in pioneers of speed demons like Brett Lee.

And will never be forgotten.
Click to expand...
How many ICC tournaments did our speed demon win? A big fat zero. Babar did it against India in a final no less. Criticize his recent form by all means but put some respect to the name. The bloke has 32 centuries and commands respect wherever he goes. Tendulker was crap in the last 2 or 3 years ypu dont see their fans talking crap do you?
 
An ICC trophy while important has to be taken in context in a team game. These bowlers never won an ICC trophy either

Waqar Younis
Courtney Walsh
Anil Kumble
James Anderson
Dale Steyn

That said, Babar deserves kudos for his ICC cup.
 
Cryin Out Loud said:
An ICC trophy while important has to be taken in context in a team game. These bowlers never won an ICC trophy either

Waqar Younis
Courtney Walsh
Anil Kumble
James Anderson
Dale Steyn

That said, Babar deserves kudos for his ICC cup.
Click to expand...
Curtley Ambrose, the best of them all.
 
RizwanT20Champ said:
Only super if you are a one track mind. Cricket is about achievements. Shoaib big mouth has nothing to show. Babar has a WC win and an ICC trophy against India.
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Ct win was due to amir, fakhar. Babar did jack....

Wt20 group win was due to shaheen, 150 is a no total in dubai while chasing
 
Sarfaraz, shaheen, fakhar, amir, hasan ali, junaid khan can claim creditable performances against India in the last 10 years. Others have nothing.
 
Shoaib Akhtar is a loudmouth... TBH, sometimes I think that this guy has gone mad...
 
AamchiMumbaikar said:
Ct win was due to amir, fakhar. Babar did jack....

Wt20 group win was due to shaheen, 150 is a no total in dubai while chasing
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Amir did jack as well. It was ali who was the man of the series and Junaid who was consistent throughout the tournament.

Amir was a complete passenger till the final and once fakhar helped team score 339, the match was already won. A 300+ score has never been chased in world cup or CT finals in history of cricket, a score of 250+ has been chased once.

Even zimbabwe bowlers could have chased that. Also Babar did do more than amir in that tournament, Amir fans just like to steal others credit.
 
RizwanT20Champ said:
Shoaib Akhtar is a joker who spoke crap about Pak players and PCB on Indian channels and shows for likes. Babar has achieved far more for Pak than Shoaib has and is the only captain to win a WC match vs India.
Click to expand...
Akhtar is still the fastest bowler in cricket history. His bowling in 1999 wc was instrumental in taking pakistan to the final. Babar is a joke, the biggest asset of the opposition
 
cricketjoshila said:
Akhtar is still the fastest bowler in cricket history. His bowling in 1999 wc was instrumental in taking pakistan to the final. Babar is a joke, the biggest asset of the opposition
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Babar has won an icc trophy, while akhtar never did.
 
Dr_Bassim said:
It doesnt work that way.

Munaf Patel > Waqar because former won World Cup?
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In sports, having won the pinnacle trophy matters alot.
Fan boys tend to get offended when their favourite hasnt won any even after the hype
 
Major said:
In sports, having won the pinnacle trophy matters alot.
Fan boys tend to get offended when their favourite hasnt won any even after the hype
Click to expand...
Ok so agreed, ishant and sreesanth are as great as any Pak bowlers and irfan pathan who won us two world cups is greater than any bowlers or all rounder pak every produced, as he has two world cups.

Also gillespie greater than any asian player ever.
 
Sachin fan said:
Ok so agreed, ishant and sreesanth are as great as any Pak bowlers and irfan pathan who won us two world cups is greater than any bowlers or all rounder pak every produced, as he has two world cups.

Also gillespie greater than any asian player ever.
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Also forgot to add, apart from two world cups, pathan also won a CT. Greatest asam bowler and all rounder ever?
 
I request posters to not judge Shoaib bhai in his grumpy years. He is 50 years old, has seen his beloved mulk's freefall in Cricket. Yes he will say things and then contradict himself a few weeks later, but it all comes from a good place in his heart, that I trust 100%.
 
Sachin fan said:
Ok so agreed, ishant and sreesanth are as great as any Pak bowlers and irfan pathan who won us two world cups is greater than any bowlers or all rounder pak every produced, as he has two world cups.

Also gillespie greater than any asian player ever.
Click to expand...
Im not saying who is great and who is not.

What i am saying is before u critisize someone at personal level, atleast compare what he achieved and what you achieved

The other day, he said something about Mohsin Naqvi, and than got his software updated to the point that he had to take his words back and did a u turn.
 
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Shoaib is 100% correct, Babar Azam was a mediocre cricketer with limited potential, the fact that he didn’t work hard to even achieve his full potential from that limited potential goes to show that he was a fraud.

The last superstar or genuinely good player Pakistan produced was Amir. Too bad he turned out to be a cheat/fixer. After Amir they haven’t been able to produce any world class player.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Babar was a fraud, but Saim is not??? Salman is not??? Shadab?? Sahheen??

Who is not a fraud here... Please tell me?
Click to expand...

Just because Babar was a fraud doesn’t mean others weren’t/arent.

If someone calls Babar a fraud = fact.

Saim and Salman aren’t hyped as kings or world class or best batsmen in the world.

Shaheen is way too over hyped and doesn’t deserve to be in the team.
 
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