Former Pakistan cricket stars Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez recently praised Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his impactful performances in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025. Hardik played crucial cameos of 28 and 18 runs in the semi-final and final respectively, contributing to India's triumph in Dubai last week. While commending Pandya’s contribution, Akhtar asserted that Hardik’s bowling prowess is nowhere near the legendary pacers like Brett Lee, Malcolm Marshall, or Waqar Younis. However, Akhtar credited Pandya’s success to the immense trust shown in him by the Indian team management. "Hardik Pandya koi Malcolm Marshall ya Waqar Younis nahi hai. Javagal Srinath ya Brett Lee nahi hai. (Hardik Pandya is no Malcolm Marshall, Waqar Younis, Srinath, or Brett Lee). It's just his mindset. You throw him the new ball, he does it. You ask him to bowl in the middle, he does it. However, he is not that powerful hitter either. He has just been given that belief that the world is your stage. The market allows you to become big," said Akhtar.
 

Akhtar also remarked that Pandya’s power-hitting isn’t extraordinary compared to what was seen in Pakistan’s cricket during his playing days. "Aisi hitting, ye hamari team mein aam thhi (This type of hitting was very common in our team)," Akhtar claimed, suggesting that Pakistan had a stronger lineup of power-hitters in his time. Supporting Akhtar’s remarks, former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez echoed similar sentiments. Hafeez compared Pandya to former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, claiming that Razzaq was a superior cricketer to Pandya in many aspects. "I would agree with him. You take out the details of Abdul Razzaq's performances. He was a better and bigger performer. But the system didn't look after him, and the player also didn't respond as much. He was limited in his skills and didn’t try to outdo his potential. Whatever I've seen of Razzaq, he was better than this version of Hardik Pandya," Hafeez remarked. To reinforce his point, Akhtar cited Razzaq's memorable 109-run innings off 72 balls against South Africa in 2010, a standout performance that demonstrated Razzaq’s ability to single-handedly change the course of a match.
 

Recalling that game, Akhtar said, "He was asked to open, played in the middle order and sometimes even the lower order. He did everything but never got the respect he deserved until he won that match against South Africa single-handedly. I was at the other end. I defended a full toss, and he said 'don't lift your bat'. I said I won't. He was hitting the ball so hard that day that I thought if the ball came towards me, it would go through me." Akhtar lamented that Razzaq, along with fellow Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, never received the recognition they deserved despite their crucial contributions to the team. Hafeez also recalled Razzaq’s remarkable innings in that same game, emphasizing how Pakistan had mentally conceded defeat after a top-order collapse. However, Razzaq’s composure under pressure turned the game around, stealing a dramatic victory from the jaws of defeat. "That was the best match that I have seen. We had lost that game mentally and physically, but Razzaq won it alone," Hafeez recalled.
 

While Pandya’s recent performances have been pivotal in India’s Champions Trophy success, the contrasting views shared by Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez highlight how Pakistan’s cricketing legends continue to regard Abdul Razzaq as one of the finest all-rounders produced by their country. The comparison also underscores how Pandya's rise is fueled by consistent team support and a belief in his abilities, setting him apart despite his skill limitations.