Shoaib Akhtar Slams Hafeez Over 90s Legacy Remarks
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- April 15, 2025
- 3:37 pm
- 39
- Trending
The Shoaib Akhtar Hafeez clash has set social media buzzing after Hafeez questioned the legacy of Pakistan’s 1990s cricket legends. Shoaib Akhtar, never one to stay silent, responded fiercely during a PSL post-match show, defending the cricket icons of that golden era.
Mohammad Hafeez had earlier commented that while the 90s cricketers were megastars, they failed to leave behind a team legacy. He pointed out that despite strong individual performances, Pakistan did not win an ICC title between 1992 and 2009. “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.
He also mentioned that the inability to win big tournaments left a gap in inspiring future generations. “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,” Hafeez explained.
Shoaib Akhtar hit back strongly during the PSL show The Dug Out. Referring to Hafeez’s remarks, Akhtar said, “He [Hafeez] said, ‘Sir, you didn’t leave a legacy.’ He’s saying that to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis? Then who did leave a legacy? You?” His comment, laced with sarcasm, quickly went viral.
Akhtar defended the achievements of the 90s team, especially their dominant record against India. He noted that the 90’s team beat India more than 70 times in ODIs – a feat still unmatched to this day. Then, in a direct jab, he asked, “What’s your legacy?”
The Shoaib Akhtar Hafeez clash took an even sharper turn as fans rallied behind both sides. Hafeez later clarified on social media that his remarks were taken out of context. He posted, “Some media houses are fabricating the actual content. The context of the discussion was all about teams winning ICC events to inspire future generations.”
He further added, “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.”
The debate gained traction after Pakistan’s early exit from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where they lost their group matches to New Zealand and India. A rain-affected match against Bangladesh ended their campaign, intensifying scrutiny of Pakistan cricket and sparking wider discussions about legacy, leadership, and performance.
