Following India's 96-run victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final—their third title and first successful home defense—former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar controversially likened the team to a 'rich kid' dominating neighborhood cricket, claiming they have 'ruined cricket.' He praised coach Gautam Gambhir's role in building confidence.
In the wake of India's historic T20 World Cup 2026 triumph (see related coverage), reactions from Pakistan highlighted the Indo-Pak rivalry's intensity. On the Tapmad show Game On Hai, Shoaib Akhtar vented frustration: “It’s like when there’s one rich kid in a neighbourhood who calls all the poor kids and says, ‘Come, let’s play cricket.’ That’s exactly what India is doing with us. Out of eight teams, they keep four, and out of those four they call three again and move forward, and then they say, ‘See, I’ve won.’ They have ruined cricket entirely."
Akhtar had previously predicted India as favorites but rooted for New Zealand 'for cricket’s sake,' citing the pressure from 1.5 billion fans and India's prior final loss to Australia in Ahmedabad. He balanced criticism by crediting Gambhir for instilling trust in players during tough times, essential for major tournament success. Akhtar's remarks fuel debates on competitive balance in cricket amid India's dominance.
