Shoaib Akhtar labels Babar Azam as a 'Fraud'

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at star batter Babar Azam following his batting failure during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against India. Shoaib also questioned Babar’s role models and compared him with Virat Kohli, who follows in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar.

Babar Azam came under heavy criticism after another disappointing performance at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23. Pakistan had won the toss and chose to bat first during the match. He managed to score only 23 runs off 26 balls before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya.

Babar Azam Was a Fraud from the Beginning - Shoaib Akhtar

Speaking on the show Game On Hai, Shoaib Akhtar said that Babar Azam has chosen the wrong role models. He went on to label Babar a "fraud from the beginning" and blamed his mindset for his shortcomings. Akhtar said that Kohli follows Sachin Tendulkar, who has 100 international centuries.

“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,” Shoaib Akhtar said on the show “Game On Hai.”

“Who is Babar Azam’s hero? Tuk tuk (Without naming any cricketer). You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning,” he said.

“I would not even wish to talk about the Pakistan cricket team. I am only doing this because I am getting paid. This is a waste of time. This deterioration I have been seeing since 2001. I have worked with the captains, whose personality used to chance thrice a day."

Hats Off to Him, Virat Kohli Is Like a Superstar! - Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar said that Virat Kohli’s century was another example of his dominance in white-ball cricket, calling him a "modern-day great" and a "superstar." Akhtar stated that Kohli fully deserves all the accolades coming his way.

“We have seen this in the past. When you tell Virat Kohli that he has to play against Pakistan, he will score a century. Hats off to him, he’s like a superstar! He’s a white ball run chaser! Modern-day great! No doubt about him. I’m very happy for him. He deserves all the praise,” Akhtar said.

Virat Kohli Helps India Comfortably Chase Down 242-Run Target in Dubai

Virat Kohli delivered a match-winning century to help India comfortably chase down a 242-run target in 42.3 overs. He, who was struggling for form in recent months, regained his form and earned the Player of the Match award.

The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 100 off 111 balls, including seven boundaries. During his innings, he also became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara in an elite club.

Despite fielding for 50 overs in the heat, he showed incredible endurance, with 72 of his 100 runs coming through running between the wickets due to a slow pitch and large boundaries.

Also read: Shoaib Akhtar goes mad after Pakistan's defeat to India in Champions Trophy 2025