Pakistan’s crushing defeat in the Caribbean sparks sharp criticism from legends
Pakistan’s ODI series loss to West Indies — their first against the Caribbean side in over three decades — has triggered a wave of strong reactions, with former greats Shoaib Akhtar and Ramiz Raja unleashing stinging assessments of both Pakistan’s performance and the conditions in which the series was played.
Akhtar, speaking on the Game On Hai show, zeroed in on Pakistan’s batting collapse in the decisive third ODI, where they were bundled out for just 92 runs chasing 295. West Indies pacer Jayden Seales tore through the lineup with a career-best 6/18, exposing what Akhtar sees as a long-standing rot in Pakistan’s approach to the game.
“We used to have expressive and explosive talent, and we played like that. We were never dependent on one individual — everyone chipped in,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar: Pakistan’s culture has turned toxic
The former speedster’s frustration wasn’t limited to just one match. Akhtar painted a bleak picture of the team’s culture over the past decade and a half — describing it as selfish, stat-obsessed, and lacking intent.
“No one used to look for escape routes. The environment has changed, and in the last 10–15 years, everyone has started playing for themselves. Everyone is playing for their averages. The intent should be to win matches for your country.”
Akhtar’s fiery critique came after captain Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for a golden duck, and fellow top-order batters Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, and Babar Azam fell cheaply — a collapse that left fans and analysts stunned.
“We need to change the intent, the mindset, and create that atmosphere. You need to play according to modern cricket. How hard is that to understand?” he added.
Akhtar also mocked the technical limitations of Pakistan’s batters when playing abroad.
“Halka sa seam hota hai toh musibat pad jaati hai (The ball moves a bit and they are in trouble). Rawalpindi pitch lekar nahi ghoom sakte (You can’t carry Pindi pitches everywhere).”
Ramiz Raja shifts focus to pitch quality in the Caribbean
While Akhtar’s fire was directed inward at Pakistan’s players, former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja targeted external conditions — particularly the substandard playing surfaces in the Caribbean.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Raja singled out the pitch conditions in Trinidad as emblematic of a wider problem affecting West Indies cricket.
“I have said before that West Indies pitches, especially in Trinidad, are substandard. This is why West Indies cricket is not progressing.”
Raja added that such pitch conditions don’t align with international standards and are rarely seen in global tournaments.
“West Indies need significant improvement in their pitches. In ICC events, you will never find such pitches.”
His remarks followed a rain-hit second ODI in Tarouba, where a sluggish surface and unpredictable bounce contributed to an uneven contest — and a narrow five-wicket West Indies win.
Bigger questions loom ahead of Asia Cup, T20 World Cup
Pakistan’s defeat — compounded by poor form in previous away series against Bangladesh and New Zealand — has added pressure on the team heading into a tri-series featuring Afghanistan and the UAE later this month. With the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, both performance and perception are at a critical juncture.
While Shoaib Akhtar demands a fundamental mindset shift, and Ramiz Raja calls for better playing conditions, one thing is clear — Pakistan cricket can no longer afford to paper over its cracks.
