“You Were A Fraud From The Start”: Shoaib Akhtar Slams Babar Azam, Compares Him To Virat Kohli

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 loss sparks criticism, with Shoaib Akhtar questioning Babar Azam’s leadership and mentality

February 24, 2025: Pakistan’s dismal performance against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has reignited the debate over Babar Azam’s place among the world’s best batsmen. As Pakistan faces an early exit from a tournament they are hosting, former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar launched a scathing attack on Babar, contrasting his career trajectory with that of Indian superstar Virat Kohli.

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During a discussion on PTV Sports, Akhtar criticized Babar’s leadership and batting approach, claiming he lacked the right inspiration.

“Let’s try to sum up Virat Kohli a little bit. Who is his hero? Sachin Tendulkar—100 international centuries, and Virat is chasing his legacy. Who is Babar Azam’s hero? Tuk tuk! You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning,” Akhtar said, implying Babar’s success was short-lived and overhyped.

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The former pacer further added that Babar’s brief stint as the No.1 ODI batter was misleading and that he failed to inspire confidence in Pakistan’s cricketing future.

Kohli-Babar Camaraderie Goes Viral

Despite the criticism, Babar and Virat Kohli shared a lighthearted moment before the high-stakes encounter. A video of Kohli giving Babar a reassuring pat on the back went viral, with fans appreciating the mutual respect between the two batting stalwarts.

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This moment rekindled memories of Babar’s 2022 social media post supporting Kohli when the Indian star was going through a rough patch. At the time, Babar had tweeted, “This too shall pass,” to which Kohli had replied, “Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best.”

Pakistan’s Struggles Continue

The latest loss to India has left Pakistan in a must-win situation. After being dismissed for a below-par total, Babar (23 off 26 balls) failed to provide a strong start, falling to Hardik Pandya. The top-order collapse, followed by a lackluster middle-order effort, put immense pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers, who couldn’t stop India from sealing a comfortable six-wicket victory.

With one group-stage match remaining against Bangladesh, Pakistan’s chances of semi-final qualification hang by a thread, while India edges closer to securing a final-four berth.

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Babar Azam, Shoaib Akhtar, Virat Kohli, Pakistan Cricket, India vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025, Cricket Controversy, Babar vs Kohli, ICC Champions Trophy