Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar did not hold back after India’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s clash, calling Sanju Samson a “weak link” in the Indian lineup and questioning the team’s coaching and selection strategies. Akhtar suggested that if KL Rahul had been part of India’s playing XI, Pakistan might have lost the match much earlier.

“Imagine iss team mein KL Rahul nahi hain. Sanju Samson ke jage KL Rahul banta hain. Woh toh nahi hain. Patake deta hain, chipka ke.. sahi kisam ke. Toh yeh weak link tha apka Sanju Samson. Match ek over pehle gaya. Otherwise toh match itna late jan hi nahi tha. KL rehta toh, shayad yeh match paach over pehle khatam kar deta,” Shoab Akhtar said during a discussion on the Pakistani TV show Game On Hai.

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Akhtar also criticised India coach Mike Hesson for questionable selection decisions. “The coach should be asked the questions – where are his brains? It is just senseless coaching and senseless selection of the team. It is beyond me, it feels like I am the one who is a fraud, who doesn’t understand a thing after playing 15 years of cricket,” he remarked.

He specifically targeted Hussain Talat’s inclusion in crucial games. “In the last five-six games, we have been saying just play the right team. In an important fixture, you thought about playing Hussain Talat? How did you even think about it? What is his utility? Tell me,” shoaib Akhtar added.

The former pacer also commented on Fakhar Zaman’s controversial dismissal, claiming the match could have swung in Pakistan’s favour if Fakhar had remained at the crease. “Who knows, if Fakhar had stayed at the crease, the match might have turned out differently,” he said, describing the umpiring decision as “hasty, shocking, and completely unfair.”

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Akhtar challenged the ICC to review footage from all 26 camera angles, insisting that the ball had bounced before hitting the gloves. “Umpiring standards were a joke. The ball clearly hit the ground first. The glove was not underneath at all,” he stated.

With India asserting dominance in the Asia Cup and Pakistan struggling to regroup, Akhtar’s scathing remarks have stirred conversations around team selection, umpiring, and individual performances ahead of the remainder of the tournament.