'India have ruined cricket': Former Pak great makes controversial statement after Men in Blue's T20 WC triumph

India’s commanding victory in the  ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final has stirred sharp reactions across the cricketing fraternity, particularly in Pakistan. Among the strongest responses came from former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who controversially claimed that India’s growing dominance has negatively impacted the game.

India clinched their third T20 World Cup title after thrashing New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs in the final held at Narendra Modi Stadium. While the Indian team received widespread praise for their all-round performance, Akhtar took a critical stance.

Drawing a metaphor, Akhtar compared India’s position in world cricket to a wealthy child controlling a neighbourhood game. According to him, India allegedly holds disproportionate influence over the structure of international tournaments.

“It’s like a rich kid inviting the poorer kids from the neighbourhood to play cricket and then deciding who moves forward. Out of eight teams, they pick four, and from those four they choose three again. After that they say they’ve won. That’s how cricket is being run,” Akhtar remarked, adding that such dominance has “ruined cricket.”

His comments quickly ignited debates on social media, with many fans interpreting the remarks as frustration following India’s emphatic triumph.

Interestingly, Akhtar’s tone had been somewhat different before the final. While acknowledging India as favourites to win the tournament, he had expressed hope that New Zealand could emerge victorious, saying it would be beneficial “for cricket’s sake.”

He had also pointed out that India might feel the burden of expectations from over 1.5 billion supporters, especially after losing a previous World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad.

Despite his criticism, Akhtar credited India’s coaching setup, particularly head coach Gautam Gambhir, for backing players even during difficult phases. He noted that such trust in cricketers can play a decisive role in high-pressure tournaments.

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Akhtar was not alone in making controversial observations after the final. Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir also shared his perspective on a Pakistani cricket talk show. Amir suggested that part of the credit for India’s victory should go to New Zealand’s bowlers, claiming they failed to build sustained pressure on the Indian batting lineup.

These reactions from former Pakistan cricketers have further fuelled discussions around India’s dominant title run, with many analysts arguing that the triumph was the outcome of consistent performances throughout the tournament.