Former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez compared India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya to Pakistan's Abdul Razzaq, both concluding that Razzaq, a former Pakistan all-rounder, was the superior player. 

However, Hafeez also emphasised that Pakistan cricket had failed to nurture Razzaq properly, and the player himself did not push his limits enough.

Akhtar, known for his candid opinions, acknowledged Pandya's versatility but downplayed his status as a power-hitter.

"Hardik is no Marshall, Waqar, Lee, or Srinath. 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 a hitter either. He has given that belief that the world is his stage. The market allows you to become big," Akhtar said during a recent discussion on Pakistan's sports show Game on Hai.

The Rawalpindi Express further asserted that Pandya's hitting abilities were once a standard feature in Pakistan cricket, particularly in the early 2000s when Razzaq was a key figure in the team.

"This type of hitting used to be a norm in the Pakistan team. Hardik is really good, but back then, this was something expected in our side," he remarked.

Agreeing with Akhtar, Hafeez added that Razzaq was not only more impactful but also a more consistent performer compared to Pandya.

"I would agree with him. If you look at 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 himself also didn't respond much. He was limited in his skills and didn't try to outdo his own potential. Whatever I have seen of Razzaq, he was better than this version of Hardik," Hafeez stated.

Akhtar then recalled one of Razzaq's most memorable innings—his unbeaten 109 off 72 balls against South Africa in Dubai in 2010, where he single-handedly guided Pakistan to victory.

"He was asked to open, played in the middle order, and sometimes even in the lower order. He did everything but didn't get the respect he deserved until he won a match against South Africa single-handedly. I was at the other end. I defended a full toss, and he told me 'Don't lift your bat.' I said I won't. He was hitting the ball so hard that day that I thought if it came toward me, it would go right through me. But we never gave him the respect he deserved, just like we didn't respect Azhar Mahmood enough. He was a great performer with the ball too," Akhtar reminisced.

Hafeez echoed Akhtar's sentiments, highlighting the significance of Razzaq's knock against South Africa.

"That was the best match I have ever seen. We had lost that game mentally and physically, but Razzaq won it alone," he concluded.

The discussion once again sparked a debate over how Pakistan cricket has historically underutilized its talent, raising questions about whether players like Razzaq could have achieved greater heights with better management and support.