Pakistan actress Rabya Kulsoom criticizes cricketers as brand faces, suggests actor for the captaincy role

Pakistan actress Rabya Kulsoom has sparked a heated debate in the cricket and entertainment circles by criticizing the national cricket team’s recent performance and suggesting that an actor should be considered for the captaincy role. Her comments come in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing loss to India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which has left fans and former players alike questioning the team’s strategy and leadership.

Criticism of cricketers as brand ambassadors

Rabya took to social media to express her disappointment with the team’s performance, stating that she would like to request all brands to stop hiring cricketers as brand ambassadors.

“I would like to request all the brands to stop taking these cricketers as their brand faces and let them do what they are supposed to do first and that is play cricket,”  Rabya captioned her Instagram story.

“Actors ka kaam actors ko karne dain please lekin agar actors ka kaam cricketers se karana hai to phir actors to team me daaldain,” [Let actors do their job, please. But if cricketers are going to do actors’ work, then include actors in the team as well], she added.

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Her message, though not naming specific players, highlighted the perceived disconnect between the team’s on-field performance and their off-field endorsements. This criticism reflects a broader sentiment among fans who feel that the team’s lacklustre performance does not justify their prominent roles in advertising and marketing campaigns.

Suggestion for actor as captain

Expressing her disappointment over the loss to India, Rabya sarcastically suggested that Fahad Mustafa or Faizan Sheikh should be appointed as the national team’s captain, as it might yield better results.

Pakistan out of Champions Trophy 2025 in group stage

Pakistan’s campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025 came to an abrupt end after the team suffered back-to-back defeats in the group stage. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side lost to New Zealand and India, failing to secure a single win in the tournament.

In their first match, Pakistan faced a 60-run defeat against New Zealand, with Will Young and Tom Latham scoring centuries for the Black Caps. Against India, Pakistan posted a modest total of 241 runs but failed to defend it, as Virat Kohli led India to a comfortable six-wicket victory.

Also READ: Sana Mir tears into Pakistan’s squad selection after hosts’ elimination from Champions Trophy 2025