WEBDESK: Cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar has responded strongly to recent remarks made by Mohammad Hafeez about Pakistan’s cricket team from the 1990s. In a heated exchange that has caught the attention of fans and former players alike, Shoaib Akhtar stood up for the senior cricketers who, according to Hafeez, failed to leave behind a lasting legacy.
In a viral clip from the PSL post-match show The Dug Out, Shoaib Akhtar delivered a sharp response to what he perceived as disrespect towards legendary players.
Hafeez had earlier commented during the ICC Champions Trophy that the 1990s team, despite having world-class players like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, did not win many major ICC tournaments post ’92 ODI World Cup. He pointed out that although the team reached the 1999 World Cup final, they couldn’t secure the trophy.
On the show, the Rawalpindi express referred to Hafeez’s statement, saying, That guy [Hafeez] is telling Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, ‘Sir, you left no legacy.’”
Shoaib Akhtar, in a sharp rebuttal, asked Hafeez, “What’s your legacy?” Shoaib Akhtar defended the contributions of the 90s cricket stars, saying they brought glory to Pakistan and helped shape the country’s strong cricket identity. He pointed out Pakistan’s dominance over India in ODI’s during that time noting that they had over 70 victories.
Hafeez came under heavy criticism following his comments about the 90s cricket legends. His comments came after Pakistan’s early exit from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy after losing two of their matches and their third against Bangladesh being abandoned due to rain.
“I am a big admirer of the cricketers from the 1990s, but when we talk about their legacy, it’s clear they didn’t bring home an ICC trophy. They were part of the World Cups in 1996, 1999, and 2003, and despite our strong performances, we lost each time. In fact, we only made it to the 1999 final, and that loss was quite heavy,” Hafeez said.
“They were megastars as players, but they couldn’t inspire us by winning an ICC event. After that, we endured a tough phase, losing the 2007 T20 World Cup final. However, in 2009, under Younis Khan’s leadership, we finally secured a title, providing inspiration for the next generation,” he added.
Hafeez took to social media on Monday to clarify that his comments were being taken out of context by certain media outlets and that his remarks were not aimed at anyone specifically but rather they were focused on team achievements.
“Some media houses are fabricating the actual content. The context of the discussion was all about teams winning ICC events to inspire future generations,” Hafeez tweeted.
“Therefore, I explained how the greats of the game from Pakistan, despite all their cricketing talent, couldn’t win ICC events (post-’92 WC) in 1996, 1999, and 2003. It was never personal criticism of any individual player,” he added.
Read more: Quetta Gladiators’ Usman Tariq reported for suspect bowling action in PSL X
