Cricket rivalries aren’t just fought on the field—they spill into words, and this time, it’s a heated exchange between two legends. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has strongly responded to Indian great Sunil Gavaskar over his remarks on Pakistan’s disappointing run in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Gavaskar had stated in an interview that Pakistan’s current squad isn’t even strong enough to compete with India’s B team.
“I think even India’s B team would give Pakistan a tough challenge. It would be very hard for Pakistan’s current team to beat them,”
he remarked.
Inzamam did not take Gavaskar’s comments lightly and urged him to choose his words carefully.
“Gavaskar sahab should look at the stats. He is a senior, and we respect him, but when talking about another team, one should be mindful. Your team has played well, and you have the right to praise them, but it’s not right to undermine another team like this. Please be careful with your words—I say this in a slightly harsh tone,”
Inzamam stated.
Gavaskar also criticized Pakistan’s batting approach, pointing out their lack of intent.
“Mohammad Rizwan hit the first ball for a four, and I thought we were in for something different. But soon, the batters started blocking instead of rotating the strike. The Indian spinners finished their overs quickly, and it was surprising to see Pakistan’s batters showing no urgency,”
he said.
Additionally, Gavaskar highlighted Pakistan’s struggles in developing bench strength.
“Pakistan has talented players, but they haven’t built a strong backup. It’s surprising they haven’t produced batters like Inzamam-ul-Haq. Despite the Pakistan Super League (PSL) being played, it hasn’t yielded enough top-quality batters,”
he remarked.
With Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign ending in disappointment, Gavaskar’s remarks have only fueled the debate over the team’s future. Whether this criticism sparks change or remains just another war of words remains to be seen.