Shoaib Akhtar blasts Pakistan coach, calls himself a fraud

Shoaib Akhtar erupted in anger after the team’s Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 defeat to India at the Dubai International Stadium. The Rawalpindi Express tore into head coach Mike Hesson’s choices. The 50-year-old directly questioned why Hussain Talat was included ahead of Hassan Nawaz.

Batting at number four, Talat struggled badly, making only 10 runs from 11 balls without clearing the ropes once. His slow approach derailed Pakistan’s innings at a crucial stage, and they managed 171 for five.

Talat played four dot deliveries and looked completely unsettled against the spin trio of Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.

“The coach has to be questioned. What was going through his mind? The coaching and team selection are completely mindless. It feels like I’m the fraud who knows nothing about the game despite playing for 15 years,” Akhtar said.

Shoaib Akhtar criticised Pakistan’s team selection. He mentioned that the coach still went with Talat despite his ordinary performance. Akhtar demanded an explanation, asking what value or role Talat was expected to bring to the side.

“We’ve been saying for the past five or six games to simply pick the right team, but you chose Hussain Talat. What was the thinking behind that? What role does he even play? Tell me,” he added.