Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram expressed disappointment after Mohammad Rizwan’s team suffered a comprehensive six-wicket loss to India in Dubai. Pakistan’s chances of progressing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 now depend on other teams’ results.
Asked to sum up the mood, Akram shared a hilarious joke on Pakistan’s Sports Central that had fellow panelists Ajay Jadeja, Nikhil Chopra, and Waqar Younis in splits.
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“Ek aadmi najoomi ke paas jaata hai. Apna hath dikhata hai ke apne future ke baare me puchta hai. Najoomi hath dekhtar kehta hai ki tu gareeb hai, tu aur gareeb ho jayega, tu bahut gareeb ho jayega. Fir tujhe aadat ho jayegi. Hum sabko bhi aadat ho gayi hai.” [A man goes to an astrologer and shows his palm to ask for his future. The astrologer says that the person will become poor, get poorer and continue to get poorer. Eventually, the person will get accustomed to it. We are also used to it now!]

Akram also called for significant changes to the Pakistan team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. He believes the team needs a major revamp and wants to end the star culture in Pakistan cricket.
Also See: Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table | Champions Trophy Full Schedule 2025
“We have been losing with these same players in white ball cricket for the last few years. Now the time has come to take a bold step and what a bold step it is. Young players should bring fearless cricket in white ball cricket. Even if you have to make more than five-six changes, make them. Support them and prepare the team for the 2026 World Cup [T20] from now itself. Enough is enough. We have seen them. We have given them a chance. We have made them stars.”

The former fast bowler highlighted concerning statistics about Pakistan’s bowling performance in recent matches.
“Pakistani bowlers have taken 24 wickets in five matches at an average of 60. 60 runs per wicket and the surprising statistic is that Pakistan’s bowling average is the second worst among 14 teams including Oman and USA.”
Pakistan’s tournament hopes now rest on the outcome of the Bangladesh versus New Zealand match in Rawalpindi on February 24. A Bangladesh victory would keep Pakistan’s chances alive in the tournament.
As far as the India-Pakistan rivalry is concerned, since winning the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Pakistan have lost all six of their completed matches against India.