Follow UsMohammad Hafeez, a former Pakistan captain, accused the Pakistani team of the 90s of not leaving any legacy behind for players to follow, and therefore they ended up idolizing people like Babar Azam. On this remark, Shoaib Akhtar, one of the best products of Pakistan cricket in the 90s, got into a heated debate with Hafeez.
“I am a huge fan of those who played in the 1990s, but when it comes to legacy, they left nothing for Pakistan. They didn't win an ICC event - they lost the (World Cups of) 1996, 1999 and 2003. We reached one final (in the 1999 World Cup) and lost that badly,” Hafeez said on Pakistan’s tapmad channel.
"As stars, as players, they were mega superstars. But then they couldn't inspire us by winning an ICC event. In 2009, we won the (T20 World Cup) under Younis Khan's captaincy and so there was an inspiration for the next generation,” added Hafeez, who is also called the Professor for his reading of the game.
Hafeez also reasoned why small kids in Pakistan ended up idolising Babar Azam. “We won the 2017 Champions Trophy. That was a huge source of inspiration. People idolise Babar Azam today and that is because even if he didn't play a big hand in that event, he was there,” Hafeez said.
Akhtar, who was also present as a panelist on the show, said, "These 73 one-dayers that Pakistan won against India, it is us who won it.”
When Hafeez tried to cover it up by saying that the people in the 90s did carry Imran Khan’s legacy, Akhtar teased him, “No you can't cover it up now, leave it. This video has been made already. You've already spoken about all the big players.”