Former Pakistan internationals Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Akhtar were involved in an uneasy verbal exchange during a live television broadcast, with the moment going viral on social media.
The discussion on Pakistan’s dismal campaign in the 2025 Champions Trophy sparked an intense debate, with former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez questioning the legacy of the country’s cricketing greats from the 1990s, which includes Shoaib Akhtar. In a panel discussion that involved former captains, Shoaib Malik and Sana Mir, Hafeez openly criticized those star-studded sides for their failure to secure ICC titles, leading to a charged exchange with legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
Openly speaking his mind, Hafeez did not hold back when assessing Pakistan’s golden generation. While acknowledging their individual brilliance, he pointed out that the team failed to translate talent into major tournament victories.
I am a huge fan of those who played in the 1990s, but when it comes to legacy, they left nothing for Pakistan,” Hafeez stated. “They didn’t win an ICC event—they lost the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups. We reached one final in 1999 and lost that badly.
The remarks seemed to strike a nerve with Shoaib Akhtar immediately, but Mohammad Hafeez continued, arguing that Pakistan’s true turning points in ICC events only came in the late 2000s.
The superstars of the 1990s couldn’t inspire us by winning an ICC event. Then came a difficult period, and in 2007, we lost the final (of the T20 World Cup). But in 2009, under Younis Khan’s captaincy, we finally won. That became an inspiration for the next generation. Then we had the 2017 Champions Trophy win, and even if Babar Azam didn’t play a major role, his presence in that team made him an idol today.
The discussion took an interesting turn when Shoaib Akhtar responded, bringing up Pakistan’s dominant record against India in ODIs during the 1990s. “These 73 ODIs that Pakistan won against India—it was us who won them,” Akhtar countered.
Hafeez acknowledged that Pakistan played great cricket during that era, particularly under Imran Khan’s leadership, but Akhtar wasn’t letting him backtrack.
“No, no—you can’t cover up now. This video has already been made! You’ve spoken about all the big players,” the Rawalpindi Express quipped, drawing laughter from the panel.
You can catch the full exchange here:
M Hafeez ⤵️
“90s mega superstars couldn’t win a single ICC Trophy.” 🤯
Shoaib Akhtar’s reply ⤵️
“Ye jo India k against 70+ ODI matches ka record agy hai wo hamny hi jeety hain.” 👀
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) March 5, 2025
The discord in Pakistan’s cricketing community is a result of the team’s early exit from the Champions Trophy, which has intensified scrutiny over its cricketing culture and past shortcomings. Many pundits have already criticized the team for their lackluster performances, but others have also urged everyone to move on. Despite these pleas, the unsavory issues continue to dominate discussions around the team’s performance.
As Pakistan looks to move forward, perhaps the next generation can meet the standards favored by Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez. They will get their first opportunity against New Zealand soon.
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