<p>Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Shaheen Shah Afridi as the left-arm fast bowler continues to impress in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. Afridi has scalped seven wickets in the ongoing Asia Cup while helping Pakistan to a perfect start in the group stage and the Super Four. He has been influential in taking Pakistan to No. 1 in the ICC ODI team rankings and will be a key player as his side prepares to face India on Sunday, September 10.</p>

<h2><strong>Akhtar praises Shaheen Afridi</strong></h2>

<p>“One of the best fast bowlers in the world right now, I would say, is Shaheen Shah Afridi. He is at the top of his career right now. Haris Rauf has the same mindset again to take wickets. Even Shaheen Shah has the same mindset,” Shoaib was quoted as saying during a virtual press conference organized by Star Sports.</p>

<p>Pakistan have a formidable bowling attack that comprises Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf who have also impressed in their spells. In the first meeting with India last Saturday, Afridi scalped three wickets while he ended with four against Nepal. Akhtar said Shaheen has been in great form and is enjoying the form of his life.</p>

<p>“I am very happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again. I don’t know what the reason is. First, there used to be a lot of fast bowlers from Punjab. Now, there is one from Rawalpindi, and two are Pathans. And the Pathans are very, very rugged and tough. So, this pace battery reminds me of the old days.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-2023-nitin-menon-kumar-dharmasena-to-officiate-in-curtain-raiser-contest-between-eng-vs-nz-633725">ODI World Cup 2023: Nitin Menon, Kumar Dharmasena to officiate in curtain-raiser contest between ENG vs NZ</a></p>

<h2><strong>India vs Pakistan on Sunday</strong></h2>

<p>Pakistan were at their fluent best with the ball in the group stage meeting as they attempted to beat India for the sixth time in the tournament. However, the contest was called off due to rain. Sunday’s clash will be the 15th meeting between the sides at the continental event with India leading 7-5 in the head-to-head tally. India qualified for the Super Four after beating Nepal by 10 wickets in a rain-curtailed contest while Pakistan beat the same opposition by 238 runs. The superior net run rate saw the co-hosts qualify as group winners for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.</p>

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Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Shaheen Shah Afridi as the left-arm fast bowler continues to impress in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. Afridi has scalped seven wickets in the ongoing Asia Cup while helping Pakistan to a perfect start in the group stage and the Super Four.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has heaped praise on Shaheen Shah Afridi as the left-arm fast bowler continues to impress in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. Afridi has scalped seven wickets in the ongoing Asia Cup while helping Pakistan to a perfect start in the group stage and the Super Four. He has been influential in taking Pakistan to No. 1 in the ICC ODI team rankings and will be a key player as his side prepares to face India on Sunday, September 10. Akhtar praises Shaheen Afridi “One of the best fast bowlers in the world right now, I would say, is Shaheen Shah Afridi. He is at the top of his career right now. Haris Rauf has the same mindset again to take wickets. Even Shaheen Shah has the same mindset,” Shoaib was quoted as saying during a virtual press conference organized by Star Sports. Pakistan have a formidable bowling attack that comprises Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf who have also impressed in their spells. In the first meeting with India last Saturday, Afridi scalped three wickets while he ended with four against Nepal. Akhtar said Shaheen has been in great form and is enjoying the form of his life. “I am very happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again. I don’t know what the reason is. First, there used to be a lot of fast bowlers from Punjab. Now, there is one from Rawalpindi, and two are Pathans. And the Pathans are very, very rugged and tough. So, this pace battery reminds me of the old days.” ALSO READ | ODI World Cup 2023: Nitin Menon, Kumar Dharmasena to officiate in curtain-raiser contest between ENG vs NZ India vs Pakistan on Sunday Pakistan were at their fluent best with the ball in the group stage meeting as they attempted to beat India for the sixth time in the tournament. However, the contest was called off due to rain. Sunday’s clash will be the 15th meeting between the sides at the continental event with India leading 7-5 in the head-to-head tally. India qualified for the Super Four after beating Nepal by 10 wickets in a rain-curtailed contest while Pakistan beat the same opposition by 238 runs. The superior net run rate saw the co-hosts qualify as group winners for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup 2023: Former pacer heaps praise on Shaheen Afridi, calls him 'one of the best fast bowlers in world'

<p>Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar thinks that India skipper Rohit Sharma is 'worrying too much' while playing against Shaheen Afridi and that he's a far better player. Notably, Afridi had castled Sharma masterfully during the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 tie on Saturday, September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>Rohit, who was the first wicket to fall for India, was bowled through his defence by the Pak left-arm pacer. Shaheen had bowled previous two balls outside off to Rohit but brought the final ball of innings' fifth over into the batsman, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-pakistan-pacer-shaheen-afridi-stuns-india-with-wickets-of-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-watch-631760">uprooting Rohit's stumps</a>. The India skipper scored only 11 off 22 balls before going back to pavilion.</p>

<p>Speaking on Afridi's spell, Akhtar remarked, "What a spell it was by Shaheen Afridi, what a bowler he is. Everyone knows what he will do, pitch it full and bring it back in, and in spite of that Rohit Sharma had no answer. But, what is Rohit Sharma supposed to do, in his defence he had last played him in 2022, he does not get the opportunity to face him too often."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-former-pakistan-pm-shehbaz-sharif-takes-a-swipe-at-indian-batters-after-shaheen-afridis-wickets-631881">Former Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif takes a SWIPE at Indian batters after Shaheen Afridi's wickets</a></p>

<p>“I don't think Rohit is able to read or understand Shaheen at all. The visual of Rohit Sharma being beaten like this was not good, he is a far better player than this. Rohit can bat much better than this, I think he is worrying too much,” he added. The former Pak speedster made the comments on his YouTube channel.</p>

<p>Afridi, in his next over, took out India's star batsman Virat Kohli as well. Kohli tried to play the ball towards third man for a single but the ball took an inside edge and hit the stumps, sending Pak fans in frenzy. Kohli could score only seven off four balls before getting out. Afridi came back again in 44th over and took two more wickets - in one over - sending back Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.</p>

<p>India eventually finished their innings for 266 in 48.5 overs but rain played spoilsport and the chase couldn't take place and the match was abandoned.&nbsp;</p>

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Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar thinks that India skipper Rohit Sharma is 'worrying too much' while playing against Shaheen Afridi and that he's a far better player.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar thinks that India skipper Rohit Sharma is 'worrying too much' while playing against Shaheen Afridi and that he's a far better player. Notably, Afridi had castled Sharma masterfully during the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 tie on Saturday, September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Rohit, who was the first wicket to fall for India, was bowled through his defence by the Pak left-arm pacer. Shaheen had bowled previous two balls outside off to Rohit but brought the final ball of innings' fifth over into the batsman, uprooting Rohit's stumps. The India skipper scored only 11 off 22 balls before going back to pavilion. Speaking on Afridi's spell, Akhtar remarked, "What a spell it was by Shaheen Afridi, what a bowler he is. Everyone knows what he will do, pitch it full and bring it back in, and in spite of that Rohit Sharma had no answer. But, what is Rohit Sharma supposed to do, in his defence he had last played him in 2022, he does not get the opportunity to face him too often." Also Read: Former Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif takes a SWIPE at Indian batters after Shaheen Afridi's wickets “I don't think Rohit is able to read or understand Shaheen at all. The visual of Rohit Sharma being beaten like this was not good, he is a far better player than this. Rohit can bat much better than this, I think he is worrying too much,” he added. The former Pak speedster made the comments on his YouTube channel. Afridi, in his next over, took out India's star batsman Virat Kohli as well. Kohli tried to play the ball towards third man for a single but the ball took an inside edge and hit the stumps, sending Pak fans in frenzy. Kohli could score only seven off four balls before getting out. Afridi came back again in 44th over and took two more wickets - in one over - sending back Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. India eventually finished their innings for 266 in 48.5 overs but rain played spoilsport and the chase couldn't take place and the match was abandoned. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Asia Cup: Shoaib Akhtar says India skipper Rohit Sharma 'worrying too much' while facing Shaheen Afridi

<p>The rivalry between India and Pakistan has always been the talking point in cricket. Regarded by many as perhaps the greatest in this game’s history, even mightier than the ever-important Ashes, a new chapter in this rivalry is set to be written come October 14. Though both teams are facing each other in the Asia Cup before, the craze for the World Cup clash is something else.</p>

<p>Former Pakistan speedster and bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar shared his first-hand experience of performing in front of Indian crowd. Having achieved enormous success against India – with twin wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid on successive deliveries in Kolkata Test, 1999 being the top highlight, Akhtar talked highly of the Indian crowd.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/steve-smith-mitchell-starc-to-miss-south-africa-series-due-to-injuries-aussies-rope-in-labuschagne-as-cover-626676">Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc to miss South Africa series due to injuries, Aussies rope in Labuschagne as cover</a></p>

<p>Speaking with journalist Boria Majumdar, Akhtar, in an exclusive chat, said the Indian crowd has been appreciative and that when the time will come they will also cheer for the new pace-bowling duo of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah during the World Cup 2023. Adding the crowd is sure to even clap for their efforts, Shoaib said,</p>

<p>“Indian people and Indian crowds are always appreciative. I absolutely agree with you. And that’s why I say to Shaheen Shah or Naseem Shah or the battery of Pakistan fast bowlers that they should go to India and enjoy playing in front of packed Indian crowds. The crowd will clap for them, and even if they don’t, they will surely appreciate the effort,” the Rawalpindi Express said.</p>

<h2>‘Pressure on India,&nbsp;we have nothing to lose’</h2>

<p>Speaking on the high-octane clash, a platform where so far India has reigned supreme over Pakistan across all meetings, Shoaib said with Indian media putting so much pressure on them ahead of the start, Pakistan is likely to enter the contest as underdogs with no pressure at all on their back.</p>

<p>“What will go in our favour is that the Indian media will put enormous pressure on the Indian team. For them, the Indian team can’t lose, and if they lose, God help them. This builds humongous pressure on India, and it means we are designated underdogs. Frankly, all the pressure is on India, and we have nothing to lose."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"All our boys need to do is play their hearts out, and beat India in India. Without much pressure and with all the pressure on India, they can surely do so. Go to India, and beat India. That’s what we should do rather than saying we won’t travel et cetera,” he said.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, India and Pakistan will face off on September 2 in Asia Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Their World Cup match is scheduled on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.<br />
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The rivalry between India and Pakistan has always been the talking point in cricket. Regarded by many as perhaps the greatest in this game’s history, even mightier than the ever-important Ashes, a new chapter in this rivalry is set to be written come October 14.

The rivalry between India and Pakistan has always been the talking point in cricket. Regarded by many as perhaps the greatest in this game’s history, even mightier than the ever-important Ashes, a new chapter in this rivalry is set to be written come October 14. Though both teams are facing each other in the Asia Cup before, the craze for the World Cup clash is something else. Former Pakistan speedster and bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar shared his first-hand experience of performing in front of Indian crowd. Having achieved enormous success against India – with twin wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid on successive deliveries in Kolkata Test, 1999 being the top highlight, Akhtar talked highly of the Indian crowd. ALSO READ: Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc to miss South Africa series due to injuries, Aussies rope in Labuschagne as cover Speaking with journalist Boria Majumdar, Akhtar, in an exclusive chat, said the Indian crowd has been appreciative and that when the time will come they will also cheer for the new pace-bowling duo of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah during the World Cup 2023. Adding the crowd is sure to even clap for their efforts, Shoaib said, “Indian people and Indian crowds are always appreciative. I absolutely agree with you. And that’s why I say to Shaheen Shah or Naseem Shah or the battery of Pakistan fast bowlers that they should go to India and enjoy playing in front of packed Indian crowds. The crowd will clap for them, and even if they don’t, they will surely appreciate the effort,” the Rawalpindi Express said. ‘Pressure on India, we have nothing to lose’ Speaking on the high-octane clash, a platform where so far India has reigned supreme over Pakistan across all meetings, Shoaib said with Indian media putting so much pressure on them ahead of the start, Pakistan is likely to enter the contest as underdogs with no pressure at all on their back. “What will go in our favour is that the Indian media will put enormous pressure on the Indian team. For them, the Indian team can’t lose, and if they lose, God help them. This builds humongous pressure on India, and it means we are designated underdogs. Frankly, all the pressure is on India, and we have nothing to lose." "All our boys need to do is play their hearts out, and beat India in India. Without much pressure and with all the pressure on India, they can surely do so. Go to India, and beat India. That’s what we should do rather than saying we won’t travel et cetera,” he said. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan will face off on September 2 in Asia Cup. Their World Cup match is scheduled on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE: :

Indian crowd has always been appreciative, will clap for Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah: Shoaib Akhtar

<p>Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared his take on India's 10-year-long ICC title drought since 2013. It is to be noted that Team India last won a mega event during the 2013 Champions Trophy, when MS Dhoni-led, inexperienced Indian&nbsp;line-up beat England in a rain-marred final, by five runs (DLS method), to lift the coveted title in England and Wales.</p>

<p>Since then, India have reached the final of mega events on four occasions (in T20 World Cup 2014, the 2017 Champions Trophy, the two WTC finals) and semi-finals on as many instances (during the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup, 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cup). However, they could not add to their trophy cabinet.</p>

<p>Akhar, in an interview with RevSportz, opined on India's empty trophy cabinet since 2013 and feels things have gone south for India ever since Dhoni stepped down as the captain. Under the legendary skipper, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. In addition, he led India to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'The moment Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south for India'</strong></h2>

<p>Akhtar said, "First of all, it is the pressure that you all put on the team. It is almost impossible to play with such pressure. Like I told you, it is as if you can’t lose. If you, God forbid, lose, all hell will break loose."</p>

<p>He further opined, "The second and more important point is you had someone who could soak in all the pressure, and protect his teammates. He would not let his teammates feel the pressure, and that was the best thing about MS Dhoni. You won the 2007 World T20 under him, the 2011 World Cup and then the 2013 Champions Trophy. The moment Dhoni gave up the captaincy, things went south for India."</p>

<p>On the current Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who has already led India in two ICC events&nbsp;but not managed any success, the former Pakistani pacer stated, "When I see Rohit, I keep asking this question of myself if he should have accepted captaincy in the first place? I think Rohit feels panic on occasion and lets the pressure get to him. The pressure of captaincy cripples you, and it happened with Virat Kohli also. That’s why you don’t win a major tournament."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-sanju-samson-and-shreyas-iyer-harbhajan-singh-names-his-india-squad-for-asia-cup-2023-626652">No Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer! Harbhajan Singh names his India squad for Asia Cup 2023</a></strong></p>

<p>Akhtar added, "Make no mistake, Rohit does have the team to win the World Cup. As a batter, he is perhaps more talented than Virat Kohli also. He is a classical batsman and the kind of shots he plays, it is just mind-blowing. But with captaincy, is he being able to do that? Let him prove me wrong and all of us wrong, for that’s what all of India will want him to do in this World Cup."</p>

<p>Under Dhoni, India became temperamentally strong during crunch situations, concentrated more on fielding and running between wickets,&nbsp;and saw a smooth transition with the baton being passed to Virat Kohli, who was later replaced by Rohit as full-time captain early in 2022. Now, Rohit will look to end India's title drought with a win in the upcoming home ODI World Cup, set to begin on October 05 in Ahmedabad.</p>

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Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared his take on India's 10-year-long ICC title drought since 2013. It is to be noted that Team India last won a mega event during the 2013 Champions Trophy, when MS Dhoni-led, inexperienced Indian line-up beat England in a rain-marred final, by five runs (DLS method), to lift the coveted title in England and Wales.

Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared his take on India's 10-year-long ICC title drought since 2013. It is to be noted that Team India last won a mega event during the 2013 Champions Trophy, when MS Dhoni-led, inexperienced Indian line-up beat England in a rain-marred final, by five runs (DLS method), to lift the coveted title in England and Wales. Since then, India have reached the final of mega events on four occasions (in T20 World Cup 2014, the 2017 Champions Trophy, the two WTC finals) and semi-finals on as many instances (during the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup, 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cup). However, they could not add to their trophy cabinet. Akhar, in an interview with RevSportz, opined on India's empty trophy cabinet since 2013 and feels things have gone south for India ever since Dhoni stepped down as the captain. Under the legendary skipper, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. In addition, he led India to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings. 'The moment Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south for India' Akhtar said, "First of all, it is the pressure that you all put on the team. It is almost impossible to play with such pressure. Like I told you, it is as if you can’t lose. If you, God forbid, lose, all hell will break loose." He further opined, "The second and more important point is you had someone who could soak in all the pressure, and protect his teammates. He would not let his teammates feel the pressure, and that was the best thing about MS Dhoni. You won the 2007 World T20 under him, the 2011 World Cup and then the 2013 Champions Trophy. The moment Dhoni gave up the captaincy, things went south for India." On the current Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who has already led India in two ICC events but not managed any success, the former Pakistani pacer stated, "When I see Rohit, I keep asking this question of myself if he should have accepted captaincy in the first place? I think Rohit feels panic on occasion and lets the pressure get to him. The pressure of captaincy cripples you, and it happened with Virat Kohli also. That’s why you don’t win a major tournament." Also read: No Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer! Harbhajan Singh names his India squad for Asia Cup 2023 Akhtar added, "Make no mistake, Rohit does have the team to win the World Cup. As a batter, he is perhaps more talented than Virat Kohli also. He is a classical batsman and the kind of shots he plays, it is just mind-blowing. But with captaincy, is he being able to do that? Let him prove me wrong and all of us wrong, for that’s what all of India will want him to do in this World Cup." Under Dhoni, India became temperamentally strong during crunch situations, concentrated more on fielding and running between wickets, and saw a smooth transition with the baton being passed to Virat Kohli, who was later replaced by Rohit as full-time captain early in 2022. Now, Rohit will look to end India's title drought with a win in the upcoming home ODI World Cup, set to begin on October 05 in Ahmedabad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Moment MS Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south: Akhtar on India's ICC title drought since 2013

<p>Over the last 12-13 months, fans across the world have seen England resort to an ultra-aggressive style of cricket, especially in their batting even during Test matches. This approach goes by the ‘Bazball’ moniker as it was taken up as soon as Brendon McCullum took over as the head coach. While the ongoing Ashes series has kept this cricket style in the headlines, another exciting batting approach seems to be emerging on the international stage. While India showcased their aggressive flair against West Indies, leading to the coinage of "WallBall" in honour of Rahul Dravid's team, Pakistan also decided to go for an attacking approach against Sri Lanka which former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has branded as&nbsp;‘PakBall’.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What Shoaib Akhtar Said</h2>

<p>Shoaib Akhtar seemed to be very impressed with Pakistan's performance. The former pacer wrote, "Is #PakBall becoming a bit of a thing?"</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakBall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakBall</a> becoming a bit of a thing?</p>
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1683459847205822464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wouldnt-it-be-better-if-sunil-gavaskar-on-indias-test-squad-selection-stst-619205">&nbsp;'Wouldn't it be better if ...': Sunil Gavaskar on India's Test squad selection</a></strong></p>

<h2>Sri Lanka vs Pakistan</h2>

<p>During the second Test match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan demonstrated their aggressive style as they raced away to 145 runs in just 28.3 overs, maintaining a run rate of over 5 per over. This remarkable performance was driven by Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood, both of whom smashed half-centuries.</p>

<p>As a result, Pakistan managed to dominate the opening day in the second Test. They first bundled out Sri Lanka for 166 runs courtesy a four-wicket haul by Abrar Ahmed. From Sri Lanka's side only Dhananjaya de Silva could manage to get past the 50-run mark. Pakistan's batters then took over and ended the day at 145-2. Pakistan currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series in Colombo.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-ishan-kishan-feels-englands-bazball-can-be-executed-only-on-flat-pitches-heres-why-619218">IND vs WI: Ishan Kishan feels England's Bazball can be executed only on flat pitches! Here's why&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<h2>Day 2 of second Test</h2>

<p>On the second morning, rain played spoilsport with only 10 overs possible at the SSC cricket ground. Massive downpour&nbsp;wiped out the morning session. There are concerns that the afternoon session might also suffer considerable disruption.</p>

<p>However, before this break, Pakistan capitalised on their advantageous position. Both Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam looked in good touch and added 33 runs to the overnight score of 145 for 2. Sri Lanka have much catching up to do as Pakistan lead by 12 runs and are dominating this game at present.&nbsp;<br />
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Over the last 12-13 months, fans across the world have seen England resort to an ultra-aggressive style of cricket, especially in their batting even during Test matches.

Over the last 12-13 months, fans across the world have seen England resort to an ultra-aggressive style of cricket, especially in their batting even during Test matches. This approach goes by the ‘Bazball’ moniker as it was taken up as soon as Brendon McCullum took over as the head coach. While the ongoing Ashes series has kept this cricket style in the headlines, another exciting batting approach seems to be emerging on the international stage. While India showcased their aggressive flair against West Indies, leading to the coinage of "WallBall" in honour of Rahul Dravid's team, Pakistan also decided to go for an attacking approach against Sri Lanka which former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has branded as ‘PakBall’. What Shoaib Akhtar Said Shoaib Akhtar seemed to be very impressed with Pakistan's performance. The former pacer wrote, "Is #PakBall becoming a bit of a thing?" Is #PakBall becoming a bit of a thing? — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) July 24, 2023 × Also read: 'Wouldn't it be better if ...': Sunil Gavaskar on India's Test squad selection Sri Lanka vs Pakistan During the second Test match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan demonstrated their aggressive style as they raced away to 145 runs in just 28.3 overs, maintaining a run rate of over 5 per over. This remarkable performance was driven by Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood, both of whom smashed half-centuries. As a result, Pakistan managed to dominate the opening day in the second Test. They first bundled out Sri Lanka for 166 runs courtesy a four-wicket haul by Abrar Ahmed. From Sri Lanka's side only Dhananjaya de Silva could manage to get past the 50-run mark. Pakistan's batters then took over and ended the day at 145-2. Pakistan currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series in Colombo. Also read: IND vs WI: Ishan Kishan feels England's Bazball can be executed only on flat pitches! Here's why Day 2 of second Test On the second morning, rain played spoilsport with only 10 overs possible at the SSC cricket ground. Massive downpour wiped out the morning session. There are concerns that the afternoon session might also suffer considerable disruption. However, before this break, Pakistan capitalised on their advantageous position. Both Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam looked in good touch and added 33 runs to the overnight score of 145 for 2. Sri Lanka have much catching up to do as Pakistan lead by 12 runs and are dominating this game at present. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

After Bazball, Shoaib Akhtar coins new term for Pakistan cricket team

<p>Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor bumped into former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar at the Dubai airport and the result was quite interesting. Tharoor shared a selfie with Akhtar and revealed that both of them talked about India and Pakistan as well as cricket. Notably, Tharoor was returning to Delhi after attending a Literature Festival in England when he met the former Pakistan pacer at the Dubai Airport. The senior politician called the meeting pleasant and heaped praises on the former cricketer. Shoaib Akhtar was also quick to reply to this tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tharoor described the Pakistan cricket legend as a smart, attractive, and flamboyant bowler. The 67-year-old politician also told Shoaib Akhtar about the mass fan following he has in India.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-cup-2023-full-schedule-out-ind-vs-pak-on-october-15-check-date-time-venue-all-you-need-to-know-609143">ICC World Cup 2023 full schedule out: Check date, time, venue &amp; all you need to know</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Shashi Tharoor on meeting Shoaib Akhtar</strong></h2>

<p>Sharing his experience after meeting Shoaib Akhtar, Shashi Tharoor posted a selfie and wrote, “On my way back to Delhi via Dubai, was pleasantly surprised when Shoaib Akhtar said hello. What a smart &amp; engaging young man the tearaway fast bowler is! He has plenty of fans on our side of the border. All the Indians who came up to greet me wanted selfies with him too. Had a good conversation about (inevitably) India, Pakistan &amp; cricket.”</p>

<p>Shoaib Akhtar replied to his tweet and said that it was nice meeting the senior Congress leader.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On my way back to Delhi via Dubai, was pleasantly surprised when <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shoaib100mph</a> said hello. What a smart &amp; engaging young man the tearaway fast bowler is! He has plenty of fans on our side of the border: all the Indians who came up to greet me wanted selfies with him too. Had a_ <a href="https://t.co/4WZl8V1rbN">pic.twitter.com/4WZl8V1rbN</a></p>
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1673371321625870337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Twitter’s divided reactions to the friendly meet-up</strong></h2>

<p>Soon after Shashi Tharoor shared the selfie on his Twitter profile, netizens showered the post with divided reactions. While a few cricket fans liked the photo and also wished for peace between the two nations, some Twitter users seem to have problems with Tharoor praising and clicking selfies with Pakistan’s former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-real-madrid-remain-hopeful-of-signing-psg-star-kylian-mbappe-report-609081">Football: Real Madrid remain 'hopeful' of signing PSG star Kylian Mbappe - Report</a></strong></p>

<p>"1.4 billion Indians in the world, and of course, as a Congressi you bump into a Pakistani. Keep it up, old chap, good show,” wrote a Twitter user, while another tweet read, “There is nothing more shameful that Indian public elected MP is busy on meeting with a man who wants to capture India.”</p>

<p>Some fans also expressed their wish and wrote that Akhtar should also break his silence on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s statement on ICC ODI World Cup 2023 venue-changing demand.</p>


While sharing an update on his Twitter profile, Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted that he met former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar at Dubai airport. Tharoor was returning to Delhi after attending a Literature festival in England.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor bumped into former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar at the Dubai airport and the result was quite interesting. Tharoor shared a selfie with Akhtar and revealed that both of them talked about India and Pakistan as well as cricket. Notably, Tharoor was returning to Delhi after attending a Literature Festival in England when he met the former Pakistan pacer at the Dubai Airport. The senior politician called the meeting pleasant and heaped praises on the former cricketer. Shoaib Akhtar was also quick to reply to this tweet. Tharoor described the Pakistan cricket legend as a smart, attractive, and flamboyant bowler. The 67-year-old politician also told Shoaib Akhtar about the mass fan following he has in India. Also read: ICC World Cup 2023 full schedule out: Check date, time, venue & all you need to know Shashi Tharoor on meeting Shoaib Akhtar Sharing his experience after meeting Shoaib Akhtar, Shashi Tharoor posted a selfie and wrote, “On my way back to Delhi via Dubai, was pleasantly surprised when Shoaib Akhtar said hello. What a smart & engaging young man the tearaway fast bowler is! He has plenty of fans on our side of the border. All the Indians who came up to greet me wanted selfies with him too. Had a good conversation about (inevitably) India, Pakistan & cricket.” Shoaib Akhtar replied to his tweet and said that it was nice meeting the senior Congress leader. On my way back to Delhi via Dubai, was pleasantly surprised when @shoaib100mph said hello. What a smart & engaging young man the tearaway fast bowler is! He has plenty of fans on our side of the border: all the Indians who came up to greet me wanted selfies with him too. Had a_ pic.twitter.com/4WZl8V1rbN — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 26, 2023 × Twitter’s divided reactions to the friendly meet-up Soon after Shashi Tharoor shared the selfie on his Twitter profile, netizens showered the post with divided reactions. While a few cricket fans liked the photo and also wished for peace between the two nations, some Twitter users seem to have problems with Tharoor praising and clicking selfies with Pakistan’s former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar. Also read: Football: Real Madrid remain 'hopeful' of signing PSG star Kylian Mbappe - Report "1.4 billion Indians in the world, and of course, as a Congressi you bump into a Pakistani. Keep it up, old chap, good show,” wrote a Twitter user, while another tweet read, “There is nothing more shameful that Indian public elected MP is busy on meeting with a man who wants to capture India.” Some fans also expressed their wish and wrote that Akhtar should also break his silence on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s statement on ICC ODI World Cup 2023 venue-changing demand.

When Shashi Tharoor met Shoaib Akhtar at Dubai airport

<p>Sachin Tendulkar had a stellar run in international cricket. He debuted at the age of 16 and played his last match at the age of 40, in late 2013. The Master Blaster ended with over 34,000 runs overall, along with as many as 100 centuries at the highest level. Thus, he is hailed as one of the greatest of all time. Recently, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar pointed out how Tendulkar battled against some of the greatest bowlers during his playing days and yet managed to dominate them.</p>

<h2><strong>'There can't be any bigger batter than Sachin Tendulkar'</strong></h2>

<p>In a recent interaction, Akhtar said he feels sorry for Tendulkar as he faced Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, etc. but didn't get bogged down. “I feel sorry for Sachin Tendulkar as he faced planet Earth’s most dangerous bowling attack. He came up against Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in the early 90s,” the former Pakistan pacer said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Well said <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shoaib100mph</a><br />
Totally agree with the statement 👏🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sachintendulkar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sachintendulkar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/godofcricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#godofcricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/bES2bfKlDo">pic.twitter.com/bES2bfKlDo</a></p>
— Nitin jain(Sachinsuperfan) (@NitinSachinist) <a href="https://twitter.com/NitinSachinist/status/1664476122661416961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-rohits-test-batting-has-become-almost-faultless-opines-manjrekar-ahead-of-mega-clash-599535">WTC Final: Rohit's Test batting has become almost faultless, opines Manjrekar ahead of mega clash</a></strong></p>

<p>“In the late 90s, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and I were there in front of him. He slammed every bowler, including me. There can’t be any bigger batter than him,” Akhtar added.</p>

<p>Over the years, Tendulkar forged a healthy on-field rivalry with many bowling greats such as Akram, Waqar, Courtney Ambrose, Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dale Steyn, etc. However, he always managed to counter their threats and not get completely rattled by them. His ability to adapt and attack legendary bowlers stood out, inspiring many to take up the sport worldwide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tendulkar was recently seen in the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp during IPL 2023. He was seen serving as the team mentor for the Rohit Sharma-led five-time winners who bowed out of the competition with a loss to eventual runners-up Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2.</p>

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Sachin Tendulkar had a stellar run in international cricket. He debuted at the age of 16 and played his last match at the age of 40, in late 2013. The Master Blaster ended with over 34,000 runs overall, along with as many as 100 centuries at the highest level.

Sachin Tendulkar had a stellar run in international cricket. He debuted at the age of 16 and played his last match at the age of 40, in late 2013. The Master Blaster ended with over 34,000 runs overall, along with as many as 100 centuries at the highest level. Thus, he is hailed as one of the greatest of all time. Recently, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar pointed out how Tendulkar battled against some of the greatest bowlers during his playing days and yet managed to dominate them. 'There can't be any bigger batter than Sachin Tendulkar' In a recent interaction, Akhtar said he feels sorry for Tendulkar as he faced Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, etc. but didn't get bogged down. “I feel sorry for Sachin Tendulkar as he faced planet Earth’s most dangerous bowling attack. He came up against Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in the early 90s,” the former Pakistan pacer said. Well said @shoaib100mph Totally agree with the statement 👏🏻#sachintendulkar #godofcricket pic.twitter.com/bES2bfKlDo — Nitin jain(Sachinsuperfan) (@NitinSachinist) June 2, 2023 × Also Read: WTC Final: Rohit's Test batting has become almost faultless, opines Manjrekar ahead of mega clash “In the late 90s, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and I were there in front of him. He slammed every bowler, including me. There can’t be any bigger batter than him,” Akhtar added. Over the years, Tendulkar forged a healthy on-field rivalry with many bowling greats such as Akram, Waqar, Courtney Ambrose, Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dale Steyn, etc. However, he always managed to counter their threats and not get completely rattled by them. His ability to adapt and attack legendary bowlers stood out, inspiring many to take up the sport worldwide. Tendulkar was recently seen in the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp during IPL 2023. He was seen serving as the team mentor for the Rohit Sharma-led five-time winners who bowed out of the competition with a loss to eventual runners-up Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Feel sorry for him, he faced planet Earth’s most dangerous bowlers': Akhtar on Tendulkar, hails his greatness

<p>Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads for quite some time now after India announced that it will not be travelling to Pakistan for Asia Cup in September later this year. Pakistan, in response, also has threated to pull out of ICC ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India shortly after the 2023 Asia Cup.</p>

<p>Former Pakistan speedster, Shoaib Akhtar, meanwhile, has said that he's hopeful of both the countries resolving the dispute and travel to each other's country for the respective tournaments.</p>

<p>"India and Pakistan will play the final in the Asia Cup and also in the World Cup. India will come to Pakistan (for Asia Cup) and Pakistan will also travel to India for the World Cup. I am very hopeful that things will improve between India and Pakistan, and trade will open. I urge people from both sides to spread positivity and close the gap instead of burning bridges," said Akhtar in a conversation with media outlet Sports Today.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-likely-to-kick-off-on-october-5-final-on-november-19-in-ahmedabad-report-574549">ODI World Cup likely to kick off on October 5, final on November 19 in Ahmedabad: Report</a></p>

<p>The fast bowler also recalled the 2011 World Cup semi-final between the two teams. The match, which was played in Mohali, India, was won by the event hosts on their way to become eventual trophy winners. Akhtar, notably, hadn't played in that match.</p>

<p>"I want to take revenge for the 2011 World Cup, I hadn't played in that match. I want to watch the India vs Pakistan final in Wankhede or Ahmedabad, wherever it happens in India. I will try my level best to watch the final," he said.</p>

<p>The Rawalpindi Express also said that it'll be governments of both the countries that will have to spearhead the talks if the nations have to travel for the both Asia Cup and the World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"BCCI and PCB have nothing in their own hands. They can't do anything without asking their governments (in the case of bilateral series and travel). So there is no point in giving statements. Both sides should stop giving statements. When things improve between the governments, they talk, and things will improve. Who is PCB or BCCI to stop or start anything? It's in the BCCI's interest if Pakistan land in India for the World Cup. It will be the biggest news at that point in time. But stop running your business," the pacer added.</p>

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Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads for quite some time now after India announced that it will not be travelling to Pakistan for Asia Cup in September later this year.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads for quite some time now after India announced that it will not be travelling to Pakistan for Asia Cup in September later this year. Pakistan, in response, also has threated to pull out of ICC ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India shortly after the 2023 Asia Cup. Former Pakistan speedster, Shoaib Akhtar, meanwhile, has said that he's hopeful of both the countries resolving the dispute and travel to each other's country for the respective tournaments. "India and Pakistan will play the final in the Asia Cup and also in the World Cup. India will come to Pakistan (for Asia Cup) and Pakistan will also travel to India for the World Cup. I am very hopeful that things will improve between India and Pakistan, and trade will open. I urge people from both sides to spread positivity and close the gap instead of burning bridges," said Akhtar in a conversation with media outlet Sports Today. Also Read: ODI World Cup likely to kick off on October 5, final on November 19 in Ahmedabad: Report The fast bowler also recalled the 2011 World Cup semi-final between the two teams. The match, which was played in Mohali, India, was won by the event hosts on their way to become eventual trophy winners. Akhtar, notably, hadn't played in that match. "I want to take revenge for the 2011 World Cup, I hadn't played in that match. I want to watch the India vs Pakistan final in Wankhede or Ahmedabad, wherever it happens in India. I will try my level best to watch the final," he said. The Rawalpindi Express also said that it'll be governments of both the countries that will have to spearhead the talks if the nations have to travel for the both Asia Cup and the World Cup. "BCCI and PCB have nothing in their own hands. They can't do anything without asking their governments (in the case of bilateral series and travel). So there is no point in giving statements. Both sides should stop giving statements. When things improve between the governments, they talk, and things will improve. Who is PCB or BCCI to stop or start anything? It's in the BCCI's interest if Pakistan land in India for the World Cup. It will be the biggest news at that point in time. But stop running your business," the pacer added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Pak will travel to India': Ex-Pak pacer Shoaib Akhtar on BCCI and PCB dispute over Asia Cup & WC touring

<p>Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has backed Indian batsman Virat Kohli to break Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries.</p>

<p>Akhtar, while speaking to media outlet Sporst Tak, however, said that Kohli should stick with Test and ODI formats only as T20 drains a lot of energy.</p>

<p>“As a cricketer, if you ask me, I feel he should stick with only Test and ODI formats. T20I format drains a lot of energy. He is a very excited kind of character. He wants to be out there, he wants to look good. He wants to have a good time in T20Is. He likes it. But at times, he needs to save his body. How old is he right now? 34 right? Easily he can play for about 6 to 8 years. If he plays 30-50 more Test matches, I'm sure it won't be difficult for him to score 25 centuries in those Test matches,” said Akhtar.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-shastri-backs-rahul-dravid-to-come-through-as-coach-gives-cheeky-reply-on-indias-lack-of-trophies-574107">Ravi Shastri backs Rahul Dravid to come through as coach, gives CHEEKY reply on India's lack of trophies</a></p>

<p>The former speedster, however, said that reaching to 100-ton mark will be a daunting task for Kohli in terms of fitness and mental health.</p>

<p>“However, it will still be a daunting task for him in terms of fitness and mental health. Luckily, he is a strong guy, he is a Punjabi guy. It's great that he is in a good frame of mind. He is concentrating and having a good time with his cricket. So he should remain focused and cross the 100-century barrier. And India will reserve high praise for him. And all these trash talks about Babar Azam and Virat Kohli - these are great players. Who is bigger than Kohli or Babar in Asia? No one. So all these loose talks are done just to grab attention,” Akhtar added.</p>

<p>Notably, Kohli is second on the list of most international tons with 75 centuries. Kohli has scored 28 Test tons with the most recent one coming after nearly three and half years in the fourth Test against Australia in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy.</p>

<p>Apart from that, Kohli also has 46 ODI centuries - three short of Sachin's world record of 49 and one in T20Is.</p>

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Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has backed Indian batsman Virat Kohli to break Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries. Akhtar, while speaking to media outlet Sporst Tak, however, said that Kohli should stick with Test and ODI formats only as T20 drains a lot of energy.

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has backed Indian batsman Virat Kohli to break Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries. Akhtar, while speaking to media outlet Sporst Tak, however, said that Kohli should stick with Test and ODI formats only as T20 drains a lot of energy. “As a cricketer, if you ask me, I feel he should stick with only Test and ODI formats. T20I format drains a lot of energy. He is a very excited kind of character. He wants to be out there, he wants to look good. He wants to have a good time in T20Is. He likes it. But at times, he needs to save his body. How old is he right now? 34 right? Easily he can play for about 6 to 8 years. If he plays 30-50 more Test matches, I'm sure it won't be difficult for him to score 25 centuries in those Test matches,” said Akhtar. Also Read: Ravi Shastri backs Rahul Dravid to come through as coach, gives CHEEKY reply on India's lack of trophies The former speedster, however, said that reaching to 100-ton mark will be a daunting task for Kohli in terms of fitness and mental health. “However, it will still be a daunting task for him in terms of fitness and mental health. Luckily, he is a strong guy, he is a Punjabi guy. It's great that he is in a good frame of mind. He is concentrating and having a good time with his cricket. So he should remain focused and cross the 100-century barrier. And India will reserve high praise for him. And all these trash talks about Babar Azam and Virat Kohli - these are great players. Who is bigger than Kohli or Babar in Asia? No one. So all these loose talks are done just to grab attention,” Akhtar added. Notably, Kohli is second on the list of most international tons with 75 centuries. Kohli has scored 28 Test tons with the most recent one coming after nearly three and half years in the fourth Test against Australia in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy. Apart from that, Kohli also has 46 ODI centuries - three short of Sachin's world record of 49 and one in T20Is. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'He needs to...': Shoaib Akhtar's advice to Virat Kohli if he wishes to break Sachin's 100-century record

<p>Babar Azam is one of the most talented batters in current times in the modern era. He is among the top-five batters across formats currently, at the top spot in ODIs, and is regarded by many to become a legend by the time he signs off from the highest level. At times, he has been slammed for his ordinary strike rate in T20Is and most recently, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at him for not being able to communicate in English. Now, the former pacer took an indirect dig at him while praising Azam Khan's performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023.</p>

<p>After Azam Khan played a blinder in Islamabad United's 202-run chase versus Karachi Kings, Akhtar was left impressed by the youngster. He appreciated his well-compiled inning and also for how 'smartly he spoke in the interview'. Azam slammed a match-winning 41-ball 72*, laced with 8 fours and 4 sixes, at a whopping strike rate of 175.61. He is the son of former wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan.</p>

<p>Akhtar praised Azam and said while speaking to Suno News, "I found Azam Khan to be a responsible guy who can build innings, not just slog. He spoke smartly in the interview as well, and it felt nice to hear him speak like that as he talked about his performance. When I was playing 20 years ago, I didn't care how I spoke. But in today's era, being in the media is part of your job. I can only indicate and pinpoint for you, ‘this is a problem, please go and correct it. It's for your own benefit'. He (Azam) looked like captaincy material with the way he spoke."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-dc-w-vs-rcb-w-shafali-verma-meg-lanning-star-with-bat-as-delhi-beat-challengers-by-60-runs-568858">WPL 2023: DC-W vs RCB-W - Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning star with bat as Delhi beat Challengers by 60 runs</a></strong></p>

<p>The ex-Pakistan speedster then took a dig at Babar and stated, "When Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, and Abdul Razzaq used to play, they would say, ‘the whole ground and its crowd is mine. I control the atmosphere in this place'. And Azam was controlling that. That's how you become a star. It's not just about winning ICC Player of the Year awards, no no. The things Azam did... the crowd backed him, and he took their ownership. He was like, ‘I'm here to run the show."</p>

<p>Notably, Babar won the ICC Player of the Year award in January. It will be interesting to see if the current Pakistan captain responds to Akhtar's blunt statement.</p>


Babar Azam is one of the most talented batters in current times in the modern era. He is among the top-five batters across formats currently, at the top spot in ODIs, and is regarded by many to become a legend by the time he signs off from the highest level.

Babar Azam is one of the most talented batters in current times in the modern era. He is among the top-five batters across formats currently, at the top spot in ODIs, and is regarded by many to become a legend by the time he signs off from the highest level. At times, he has been slammed for his ordinary strike rate in T20Is and most recently, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at him for not being able to communicate in English. Now, the former pacer took an indirect dig at him while praising Azam Khan's performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023. After Azam Khan played a blinder in Islamabad United's 202-run chase versus Karachi Kings, Akhtar was left impressed by the youngster. He appreciated his well-compiled inning and also for how 'smartly he spoke in the interview'. Azam slammed a match-winning 41-ball 72*, laced with 8 fours and 4 sixes, at a whopping strike rate of 175.61. He is the son of former wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan. Akhtar praised Azam and said while speaking to Suno News, "I found Azam Khan to be a responsible guy who can build innings, not just slog. He spoke smartly in the interview as well, and it felt nice to hear him speak like that as he talked about his performance. When I was playing 20 years ago, I didn't care how I spoke. But in today's era, being in the media is part of your job. I can only indicate and pinpoint for you, ‘this is a problem, please go and correct it. It's for your own benefit'. He (Azam) looked like captaincy material with the way he spoke." Also read: WPL 2023: DC-W vs RCB-W - Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning star with bat as Delhi beat Challengers by 60 runs The ex-Pakistan speedster then took a dig at Babar and stated, "When Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, and Abdul Razzaq used to play, they would say, ‘the whole ground and its crowd is mine. I control the atmosphere in this place'. And Azam was controlling that. That's how you become a star. It's not just about winning ICC Player of the Year awards, no no. The things Azam did... the crowd backed him, and he took their ownership. He was like, ‘I'm here to run the show." Notably, Babar won the ICC Player of the Year award in January. It will be interesting to see if the current Pakistan captain responds to Akhtar's blunt statement.

'It's not about winning ICC Player of the Year...': Akhtar's indirect dig at Babar while lauding Azam Khan

<p>Former Pakistan players often remain in the headlines for their staggering claims or severe criticism of the national side. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar is also one of them who never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game and once again made heads turn by criticising the current crop of players, especially captain Babar Azam, for their poor communication skills. Further, he went on to express his desire to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman to serve Pakistan cricket.</p>

<p>In an interaction with Suno News, Akhtar said, "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan. He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system &amp; country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket and it's my wish to serve Pakistan," Shoaib Akhtar.</p>
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/_FaridKhan/status/1627454686654607362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shoaib Akhtar "reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system &amp; country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1628078366833221633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-hasnt-become-pakistans-biggest-brand-as-he-cant-speak-english-shoaib-akhtar-564252">Babar Azam hasn't become Pakistan's biggest brand as he can’t speak English: Shoaib Akhtar</a></strong></p>

<p>Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain, was removed as the PCB chief in late 2022 and Najam Sethi succeeded him. At present, Sethi is heading Pakistan cricket but Akhtar is eager to take up the top post in the future to create more cricketing superstars in the country. During the same interaction, the former speedster slammed Babar &amp; Co. for their communication skills and stated that 'Babar hasn't become a big brand in Pakistan as he cannot speak English'.</p>

<p>Akhtar pointed out, "Abhi aap dekh le, koi character nahi team mein. Naa koi baat karne ka tarika. (You can see there's no character in the team, nor they know how to talk). How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV. He added,&nbsp;"I want to openly say that Babar Azam should be the biggest brand in Pakistan, but why hasn't he become the biggest brand in Pakistan? Because he can’t speak. Is there any other cricketer who can speak well? Why do only I, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram get all the advertisements? The reason is that we take it as a job."</p>


Former Pakistan players often remain in the headlines for their staggering claims or severe criticism of the national side. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar is also one of them who never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game and once again made heads turn by criticising the current crop of players, especially captain Babar Azam, for their poor communication skills.

Former Pakistan players often remain in the headlines for their staggering claims or severe criticism of the national side. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar is also one of them who never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game and once again made heads turn by criticising the current crop of players, especially captain Babar Azam, for their poor communication skills. Further, he went on to express his desire to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman to serve Pakistan cricket. In an interaction with Suno News, Akhtar said, "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan. He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system & country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups." "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket and it's my wish to serve Pakistan," Shoaib Akhtar. — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 19, 2023 × Shoaib Akhtar "reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system & country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups" #Cricket — Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 21, 2023 × Also Read: Babar Azam hasn't become Pakistan's biggest brand as he can’t speak English: Shoaib Akhtar Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain, was removed as the PCB chief in late 2022 and Najam Sethi succeeded him. At present, Sethi is heading Pakistan cricket but Akhtar is eager to take up the top post in the future to create more cricketing superstars in the country. During the same interaction, the former speedster slammed Babar & Co. for their communication skills and stated that 'Babar hasn't become a big brand in Pakistan as he cannot speak English'. Akhtar pointed out, "Abhi aap dekh le, koi character nahi team mein. Naa koi baat karne ka tarika. (You can see there's no character in the team, nor they know how to talk). How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV. He added, "I want to openly say that Babar Azam should be the biggest brand in Pakistan, but why hasn't he become the biggest brand in Pakistan? Because he can’t speak. Is there any other cricketer who can speak well? Why do only I, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram get all the advertisements? The reason is that we take it as a job."

'Want to become PCB chairman and...': Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar wishes to take up top post

<p>Shoaib Akhtar had a stellar run in international cricket. The pacer ended with as many as 444 scalps in a career than spanned for 14 years. He enjoyed a fierce rivalry with some big batters of his time, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, etc., and gave many other batters sleepless nights with his raw pace and bounce. Akhtar's career was, however, marred with several controversies and injury concerns.</p>

<p>Since his retirement, the 47-year-old Akhtar remains active on social media platforms and never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game. Recently, during an interaction, the former Pakistan speedster made a big claim, revealing that he was offered the national side's captaincy and declined. Here's what he said:</p>

<p>"I wasn't fit enough," Akhtar told Suno News HD. "I could play three matches out of five. I was offered captaincy in 2002, but then I would've played only 1.5–2 years (if I played all matches)," said Akhtar. "I supported my teammates, but the board was very unstable. There was mismanagement all over the board. Pakistan itself had faced mismanagement at that time," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/want-to-become-pcb-chairman-and-rawalpindi-express-shoaib-akhtar-wishes-to-take-up-top-post-564599">'Want to become PCB chairman and...': Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar wishes to take up top post</a></strong></p>

<p>During Akhtar's illustrious career, he played under several captains such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, etc. However, he never led the side.&nbsp;Overall, the pacer managed to represent Pakistan in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20I matches. He claimed&nbsp;178, 247, and 19 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively.</p>

<p>While Akhtar didn't led Pakistan, in the same interview he revealed he wishes to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman. "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan," mentioned Akhtar.&nbsp;He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system &amp; country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups."</p>


Shoaib Akhtar had a stellar run in international cricket. The pacer ended with as many as 444 scalps in a career than spanned for 14 years. He enjoyed a fierce rivalry with some big batters of his time, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, etc.

Shoaib Akhtar had a stellar run in international cricket. The pacer ended with as many as 444 scalps in a career than spanned for 14 years. He enjoyed a fierce rivalry with some big batters of his time, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, etc., and gave many other batters sleepless nights with his raw pace and bounce. Akhtar's career was, however, marred with several controversies and injury concerns. Since his retirement, the 47-year-old Akhtar remains active on social media platforms and never shies away from expressing his views on various aspects of the gentlemen's game. Recently, during an interaction, the former Pakistan speedster made a big claim, revealing that he was offered the national side's captaincy and declined. Here's what he said: "I wasn't fit enough," Akhtar told Suno News HD. "I could play three matches out of five. I was offered captaincy in 2002, but then I would've played only 1.5–2 years (if I played all matches)," said Akhtar. "I supported my teammates, but the board was very unstable. There was mismanagement all over the board. Pakistan itself had faced mismanagement at that time," he added. Also Read: 'Want to become PCB chairman and...': Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar wishes to take up top post During Akhtar's illustrious career, he played under several captains such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, etc. However, he never led the side. Overall, the pacer managed to represent Pakistan in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20I matches. He claimed 178, 247, and 19 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively. While Akhtar didn't led Pakistan, in the same interview he revealed he wishes to become the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) chairman. "I want to become PCB chairman and produce superstars for Pakistan. I want to produce 50 superstars for my country, then increase the count to 100, 200 and eventually 2000. I owe a lot to Pakistan cricket, and it’s my wish to serve Pakistan," mentioned Akhtar. He further asserted, "The reason I want to become PCB Chairman is I owe a debt of gratitude to Pakistan cricket as I am a beneficary of this system & country. I want to start by creating 12 superstars, then 50 more, then another 200 to 2000 kids who are also superstars as backups."

'I was offered captaincy but...': Shoaib Akhtar reveals why he said NO to leading Pakistan in 2002

<p>Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar doesn't shy away from expressing his views on various aspects of the modern-day game. Akhtar has often made the headlines with his sensational claims or criticism of the Pakistan cricket team. Recently, the 47-year-old ex-speedster lashed out at the current crop of Pakistan players and targetted skipper Babar Azam whom he feels isn't a big brand yet in the country for his poor communication skills.</p>

<p>In an interview with a local Pakistani channel, Akhtar pointed out the poor communication skills of Pakistani players, including Babar, and mentioned, "Abhi aap dekh le, koi character nahi team mein. Naa koi baat karne ka tarika. (You can see there's no character in the team, nor they know how to talk). How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar says Babar Azam cannot speak and hence he is not the biggest brand in Pakistan. Modern-day cricketers in Pakistan cannot speak on media, TV or in post-match presentations.<br />
<br />
Do you agree with this statement? <a href="https://t.co/xMrNwYQe1X">pic.twitter.com/xMrNwYQe1X</a></p>
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/_FaridKhan/status/1627840024036392960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-these-guys-know-is-sunil-gavaskar-slams-ex-pak-players-for-constant-criticism-of-indians-564214">'What these guys know is...': Sunil Gavaskar slams ex-Pak players for constant criticism of Indians</a></strong></p>

<p>Akhtar added, "I want to openly say that Babar Azam should be the biggest brand in Pakistan, but why hasn't he become the biggest brand in Pakistan? Because he can’t speak. Is there any other cricketer who can speak well? Why do only I, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram get all the advertisements? The reason is that we take it as a job."</p>

<p>This isn't the first time that Babar has faced criticism for his&nbsp;communication skills. Even in 2020, he addressed the issue during a press conference by saying that he is working on improving his communication skills. Back then, he stated, "I’m a cricketer; my job is to play cricket. I am not a '<em>gora'</em>&nbsp;who knows English thoroughly. Yes, I am working on it, but you learn these things over a period of time; you can’t just suddenly learn it."</p>

<p>At present, Babar is leading the Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2023. While he is a superstar in modern-day cricket, he will be eager to work on his personality to shun his critics across the globe.</p>


Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar doesn't shy away from expressing his views on various aspects of the modern-day game. Akhtar has often made the headlines with his sensational claims or criticism of the Pakistan cricket team.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar doesn't shy away from expressing his views on various aspects of the modern-day game. Akhtar has often made the headlines with his sensational claims or criticism of the Pakistan cricket team. Recently, the 47-year-old ex-speedster lashed out at the current crop of Pakistan players and targetted skipper Babar Azam whom he feels isn't a big brand yet in the country for his poor communication skills. In an interview with a local Pakistani channel, Akhtar pointed out the poor communication skills of Pakistani players, including Babar, and mentioned, "Abhi aap dekh le, koi character nahi team mein. Naa koi baat karne ka tarika. (You can see there's no character in the team, nor they know how to talk). How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV." Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar says Babar Azam cannot speak and hence he is not the biggest brand in Pakistan. Modern-day cricketers in Pakistan cannot speak on media, TV or in post-match presentations. Do you agree with this statement? pic.twitter.com/xMrNwYQe1X — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 21, 2023 × Also Read: 'What these guys know is...': Sunil Gavaskar slams ex-Pak players for constant criticism of Indians Akhtar added, "I want to openly say that Babar Azam should be the biggest brand in Pakistan, but why hasn't he become the biggest brand in Pakistan? Because he can’t speak. Is there any other cricketer who can speak well? Why do only I, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram get all the advertisements? The reason is that we take it as a job." This isn't the first time that Babar has faced criticism for his communication skills. Even in 2020, he addressed the issue during a press conference by saying that he is working on improving his communication skills. Back then, he stated, "I’m a cricketer; my job is to play cricket. I am not a 'gora' who knows English thoroughly. Yes, I am working on it, but you learn these things over a period of time; you can’t just suddenly learn it." At present, Babar is leading the Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2023. While he is a superstar in modern-day cricket, he will be eager to work on his personality to shun his critics across the globe.

Babar Azam hasn't become Pakistan's biggest brand as he can’t speak English: Shoaib Akhtar

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<p>Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the Babar Azam-led team for their&nbsp;poor intent in the recently-concluded Test match against England in Rawalpindi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to his YouTube channel, Akhtar said, "England gave a chance to Pakistan. England told them, 'You save your Test match. We will save Test cricket. You save your place in the team. We will break our bowlers for you'.&nbsp;However, Pakistan did not capitalise on it."</p>

<p>The former speedster added that if Pakistan was in England's position, they would have played for safety.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There is a difference in the mindset. If Pakistan were in a similar situation as England, would they declare? They would never declare."</p>

<p>Earlier, Akhtar had trained his guns on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for preparing a dead pitch where over 500 runs were amassed by the visitors on Day 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I request my countrymen to write a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board and request them,&nbsp;If they had already thought of giving away 500 runs on day 1, they would’ve told us earlier," said Akhtar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After scoring a mammoth 657 runs in the first innings, the three lions went bonkers in their second innings, going at over seven runs an over, to declare at 264 for 7 in 35.5 overs.</p>

<p>Chasing 343, Pakistan had four sessions to create history and were cruising at 248 for 5. With the bad light expected to come into play soon, the Pakistani batters had to brave the conditions for a few overs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson had different plans. Both seamers stuck to their plan that helped them pick wickets at regular intervals. With incredible implementation and execution by the English bowlers, they wrapped up Pakistan’s second innings on 268 runs.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rawalpindi-run-feast-pakistan-england-tie-breaks-record-for-most-runs-scored-in-a-five-day-test-540340" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Rawalpindi run-feast: Pakistan-England tie breaks record for most runs scored in a five-day Test</strong></a></p>

<p>Despite the result, which was made possible, largely thanks to England's bold approach, the Rawalpindi pitch has been panned by fans and critics alike. The placid surface offered nothing to the bowlers who had to toil excessively hard to make a breakthrough. The ICC in its review is expected to be extremely critical in its assessment of the pitch.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the Babar Azam-led team for their poor intent in the recently-concluded Test match against England in Rawalpindi.

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the Babar Azam-led team for their poor intent in the recently-concluded Test match against England in Rawalpindi. Taking to his YouTube channel, Akhtar said, "England gave a chance to Pakistan. England told them, 'You save your Test match. We will save Test cricket. You save your place in the team. We will break our bowlers for you'. However, Pakistan did not capitalise on it." The former speedster added that if Pakistan was in England's position, they would have played for safety. "There is a difference in the mindset. If Pakistan were in a similar situation as England, would they declare? They would never declare." Earlier, Akhtar had trained his guns on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for preparing a dead pitch where over 500 runs were amassed by the visitors on Day 1. “I request my countrymen to write a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board and request them, If they had already thought of giving away 500 runs on day 1, they would’ve told us earlier," said Akhtar. After scoring a mammoth 657 runs in the first innings, the three lions went bonkers in their second innings, going at over seven runs an over, to declare at 264 for 7 in 35.5 overs. Chasing 343, Pakistan had four sessions to create history and were cruising at 248 for 5. With the bad light expected to come into play soon, the Pakistani batters had to brave the conditions for a few overs. However, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson had different plans. Both seamers stuck to their plan that helped them pick wickets at regular intervals. With incredible implementation and execution by the English bowlers, they wrapped up Pakistan’s second innings on 268 runs. Read more: Rawalpindi run-feast: Pakistan-England tie breaks record for most runs scored in a five-day Test Despite the result, which was made possible, largely thanks to England's bold approach, the Rawalpindi pitch has been panned by fans and critics alike. The placid surface offered nothing to the bowlers who had to toil excessively hard to make a breakthrough. The ICC in its review is expected to be extremely critical in its assessment of the pitch. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Shoaib Akhtar slams Pakistan team after losing Rawalpindi Test against England

<p>England dominated proceedings on Day 1 of the first Test versus hosts Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test on Thursday (December 01). After there were reports suggesting that the series opener will be postponed by a day or two, with over a dozen English players unwell due to a stomach bug, the Rawalpindi Test started as per schedule.</p>

<p>Opting to bat first, Ben Stokes &amp; Co. rode on centuries from opener Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brooks to take England to a mammoth 506-4 at stumps on Day 1; highest score by a team on the opening day of a Test. After this, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared a video, reacting on England's batting onslaught on a pitch suitable for batters.</p>

<p>"<em>Shukr hai abhi England team ki tabiyat kharab thi, jo kal report aa rhi thi, England ki team ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Jab tabiyat theek nahi hai tab 500 maar diye, agar theek hote to bahut bura haal krte</em>&nbsp;(Thank god, England aren't well, as per the report that came in last evening. When they are unwell, they scored 500. They would have thrashed us if they were fit and fine)." <strong>Here's the video:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Kharab tabiyat pay hamara yeh haal kia hai England k players nay. Yeh theek hotay toh kya kertay. <a href="https://t.co/rr8fUhBgzY">pic.twitter.com/rr8fUhBgzY</a></p>
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1598307915668111361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rawalpindi-test-england-create-history-ben-stokes-co-become-first-team-to-hit-most-runs-on-day-1-539124"><strong>Rawalpindi Test: England create history! Ben Stokes &amp; Co. become first team to hit most runs on Day 1</strong></a></p>

<p>Further, Akhtar lauded England's Test coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for his approach of wanting his side to score at a run a ball. "<em>Inke jo coach hai Brendon McCullum, vo ye believe ni krta ki Test matches aise khele jaye ruk ruk k. Vo believe krta hai run a ball khele jaye. Vo jab se aaya hai Test cricket mai, England ne maarna shuru kr diya hai. England nahi rukta. Batting line up unke pass bahut lambi hai. Vo kehte hai ki run a ball khelo Test matches bhi</em>&nbsp;(England’s&nbsp;coach Brendon McCullum doesn’t believe in batting slowly in Tests. He has&nbsp;asked&nbsp;his players to score at a run-a-ball. England are playing an aggressive brand of cricket ever since he took over. They have batting depth. I think, Pakistan also needs to change their mindset)," he added.</p>

<p>On Day 2, England posted a mammoth 657 all-out courtesy of Harry Brooks' 116-ball 153. In reply, Pakistan openers have started strongly and have crossed the 100-run mark.</p>


England dominated proceedings on Day 1 of the first Test versus hosts Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test on Thursday (December 01). After there were reports suggesting that the series opener will be postponed by a day or two, with over a dozen English players unwell due to a stomach bug, the Rawalpindi Test started as per schedule.

England dominated proceedings on Day 1 of the first Test versus hosts Pakistan in the Rawalpindi Test on Thursday (December 01). After there were reports suggesting that the series opener will be postponed by a day or two, with over a dozen English players unwell due to a stomach bug, the Rawalpindi Test started as per schedule. Opting to bat first, Ben Stokes & Co. rode on centuries from opener Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brooks to take England to a mammoth 506-4 at stumps on Day 1; highest score by a team on the opening day of a Test. After this, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared a video, reacting on England's batting onslaught on a pitch suitable for batters. "Shukr hai abhi England team ki tabiyat kharab thi, jo kal report aa rhi thi, England ki team ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Jab tabiyat theek nahi hai tab 500 maar diye, agar theek hote to bahut bura haal krte (Thank god, England aren't well, as per the report that came in last evening. When they are unwell, they scored 500. They would have thrashed us if they were fit and fine)." Here's the video: Kharab tabiyat pay hamara yeh haal kia hai England k players nay. Yeh theek hotay toh kya kertay. pic.twitter.com/rr8fUhBgzY — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) December 1, 2022 × Also read: Rawalpindi Test: England create history! Ben Stokes & Co. become first team to hit most runs on Day 1 Further, Akhtar lauded England's Test coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for his approach of wanting his side to score at a run a ball. "Inke jo coach hai Brendon McCullum, vo ye believe ni krta ki Test matches aise khele jaye ruk ruk k. Vo believe krta hai run a ball khele jaye. Vo jab se aaya hai Test cricket mai, England ne maarna shuru kr diya hai. England nahi rukta. Batting line up unke pass bahut lambi hai. Vo kehte hai ki run a ball khelo Test matches bhi (England’s coach Brendon McCullum doesn’t believe in batting slowly in Tests. He has asked his players to score at a run-a-ball. England are playing an aggressive brand of cricket ever since he took over. They have batting depth. I think, Pakistan also needs to change their mindset)," he added. On Day 2, England posted a mammoth 657 all-out courtesy of Harry Brooks' 116-ball 153. In reply, Pakistan openers have started strongly and have crossed the 100-run mark.

'They scored 500 when...': Shoaib Akhtar reacts to England's batting onslaught on Day 1 of Rawalpindi Test

<p>Pakistan has produced some big names in world cricket, especially in the pace department. Shoaib Akhtar is one of the most popular names in the cricketing fraternity who helped Pakistan win several games with his pace and bounce. During his playing days, he troubled many batters and had intense face-offs&nbsp;with some iconic players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, etc.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akhtar had an action-packed career, full of ups and downs, and ended with a total of 444 international wickets from 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is. He remains vocal on various aspects of the game to date and recently made a big claim.</p>

<p>Speaking to The Guardian, the 47-year-old asked the interviewer when he was the happiest in life. After getting response from the journo who said, "Erm, I’m not sure. The birth of my child?", Akhtar replied, "Right, increase that by a thousand and it’ll be somewhere near what it feels like to bowl truly fast. If you get a wicket after all that effort, when the ball hits the stumps, the sound of it goes inside your soul and explodes like an atom bomb. That’s true happiness. Every time I turn on the TV, I say: ‘Is there anyone out there who can step up? Please take this record away from me,’ I’ll be the first to fly out and shake them by the hand." He added, "Had I been the fittest guy, I would’ve been the greatest ever."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-logic-in-comparing-my-performances-until-rishabh-pant-defends-his-white-ball-record-with-blunt-reply-538775">'No logic in comparing my performances until...': Rishabh Pant defends his white-ball record with blunt reply</a></strong></p>

<section>
<p>On England returning to Pakistan after 17 years, Akhtar stated, "It’s fantastic that England are coming back with a strong side for a full-fledged series. It’s been a long 17 years since they played Test cricket in Pakistan back in 2005 … their confidence was skyrocketing but I soon put paid to that!" At that time, Akhtart wreaked havoc and accounted for 17 wickets in three Tests, and Pakistan won the series 2-0.&nbsp;</p>

<p>England's tour of Pakistan is set to kickoff on December 01 with the three-match Test series opener in Rawalpindi. However, with over a dozen of English players unwell due to some virus, the tour opener might be postponed by a day or two. A final decision will be out soon.</p>
</section>


Pakistan has produced some big names in world cricket, especially in the pace department. Shoaib Akhtar is one of the most popular names in the cricketing fraternity who helped Pakistan win several games with his pace and bounce.

Pakistan has produced some big names in world cricket, especially in the pace department. Shoaib Akhtar is one of the most popular names in the cricketing fraternity who helped Pakistan win several games with his pace and bounce. During his playing days, he troubled many batters and had intense face-offs with some iconic players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, etc. Akhtar had an action-packed career, full of ups and downs, and ended with a total of 444 international wickets from 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is. He remains vocal on various aspects of the game to date and recently made a big claim. Speaking to The Guardian, the 47-year-old asked the interviewer when he was the happiest in life. After getting response from the journo who said, "Erm, I’m not sure. The birth of my child?", Akhtar replied, "Right, increase that by a thousand and it’ll be somewhere near what it feels like to bowl truly fast. If you get a wicket after all that effort, when the ball hits the stumps, the sound of it goes inside your soul and explodes like an atom bomb. That’s true happiness. Every time I turn on the TV, I say: ‘Is there anyone out there who can step up? Please take this record away from me,’ I’ll be the first to fly out and shake them by the hand." He added, "Had I been the fittest guy, I would’ve been the greatest ever." Also read: 'No logic in comparing my performances until...': Rishabh Pant defends his white-ball record with blunt reply On England returning to Pakistan after 17 years, Akhtar stated, "It’s fantastic that England are coming back with a strong side for a full-fledged series. It’s been a long 17 years since they played Test cricket in Pakistan back in 2005 … their confidence was skyrocketing but I soon put paid to that!" At that time, Akhtart wreaked havoc and accounted for 17 wickets in three Tests, and Pakistan won the series 2-0. England's tour of Pakistan is set to kickoff on December 01 with the three-match Test series opener in Rawalpindi. However, with over a dozen of English players unwell due to some virus, the tour opener might be postponed by a day or two. A final decision will be out soon.

'Had I been the fittest guy, I would’ve...': Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar makes big claim

<p>Babar Azam-led Pakistan lost the T20 World Cup 2022 final to England by five wickets. In a low-scoring clash, at the iconic MCG, Melbourne, Pakistan were asked to bat first and only managed 137 for 8 in 20 overs, courtesy of Sam Curran's 3 for 12 and two-fers each from Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan. In reply, Jos Buttler &amp; Co. were made to sweat hard for their runs but Ben Stokes' 49-ball 52 took them past the finish line, with five wickets and an over to spare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the run-chase, Shaheen Afridi failed to complete his full quota of overs. Coming on to bowl the 16th over, with Pakistan still in the game, Shaheen injured himself -- as a result of a catch he took the previous over -- due to injury concerns (knee). Many former cricketers described Shaheen's injury as a turning point of the match. As he failed to complete thew 16th over and went to the pavilion with five balls left to bowl, England still had 41 more runs to score off 29 balls. Reflecting on Shaheen's injury, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recently told Zee News,&nbsp;"But this is World Cup final. Even if the leg breaks. Whatever happens, happens. Just keep running and do something. But this was not in our fortune. When you numb your feet, the pain is not felt. Yes, you are risking the career of the young man. It is a World Cup final, whether you can risk or not that you have to think as a captain. It is a tough decision."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/one-player-was-ready-but-not-picked-kaif-names-star-batter-who-shouldve-been-in-indias-t20-wc-squad-535309">'One player was ready but not picked' - Kaif names star batter who should've been in India's T20 WC squad</a></strong></p>

<p>Shahid Afridi, Akhtar's former captain, has now slammed the ex-pacer for his suggestion for the young pacer. Talking to Samaa TV, the former Pakistan all-rounder and captain said, "No, no…not at all, it's wrong. Painkillers should be taken in a disciplined manner. I too used to take it. But it has a lot of side effects. It does numb the pain for a while, but after the match day, it tends to pain even more)."</p>

<p>Talking about Shaheen's injury, captain Babar Azam said at the post-match presentation after the T20 WC final, "&nbsp;Unfortunately Shaheen's injury put us off, but that's part of the game."</p>

<p>The 22-year-old Shaheen has been ruled out of action from Pakistan's upcoming home Test series versus England and Haris Rauf is set to replace him. Rauf, who was part of Pakistan's T20 WC campaign in Australia, remains an uncapped player in the purest format of the game.</p>


Babar Azam-led Pakistan lost the T20 World Cup 2022 final to England by five wickets. In a low-scoring clash, at the iconic MCG, Melbourne, Pakistan were asked to bat first and only managed 137 for 8 in 20 overs, courtesy of Sam Curran's 3 for 12 and two-fers each from Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan lost the T20 World Cup 2022 final to England by five wickets. In a low-scoring clash, at the iconic MCG, Melbourne, Pakistan were asked to bat first and only managed 137 for 8 in 20 overs, courtesy of Sam Curran's 3 for 12 and two-fers each from Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan. In reply, Jos Buttler & Co. were made to sweat hard for their runs but Ben Stokes' 49-ball 52 took them past the finish line, with five wickets and an over to spare. During the run-chase, Shaheen Afridi failed to complete his full quota of overs. Coming on to bowl the 16th over, with Pakistan still in the game, Shaheen injured himself -- as a result of a catch he took the previous over -- due to injury concerns (knee). Many former cricketers described Shaheen's injury as a turning point of the match. As he failed to complete thew 16th over and went to the pavilion with five balls left to bowl, England still had 41 more runs to score off 29 balls. Reflecting on Shaheen's injury, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recently told Zee News, "But this is World Cup final. Even if the leg breaks. Whatever happens, happens. Just keep running and do something. But this was not in our fortune. When you numb your feet, the pain is not felt. Yes, you are risking the career of the young man. It is a World Cup final, whether you can risk or not that you have to think as a captain. It is a tough decision." Also read: 'One player was ready but not picked' - Kaif names star batter who should've been in India's T20 WC squad Shahid Afridi, Akhtar's former captain, has now slammed the ex-pacer for his suggestion for the young pacer. Talking to Samaa TV, the former Pakistan all-rounder and captain said, "No, no…not at all, it's wrong. Painkillers should be taken in a disciplined manner. I too used to take it. But it has a lot of side effects. It does numb the pain for a while, but after the match day, it tends to pain even more)." Talking about Shaheen's injury, captain Babar Azam said at the post-match presentation after the T20 WC final, " Unfortunately Shaheen's injury put us off, but that's part of the game." The 22-year-old Shaheen has been ruled out of action from Pakistan's upcoming home Test series versus England and Haris Rauf is set to replace him. Rauf, who was part of Pakistan's T20 WC campaign in Australia, remains an uncapped player in the purest format of the game.

'Painkillers should be taken...' - Shahid Afridi on Shoaib Akhtar's suggestion for Shaheen Afridi

<p>Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi responded to Indian pacer Mohammed Shami's 'karma' jibe at Shoaib Akhtar following Pakistan's defeat in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday (November 13). Shami took to Twitter to take a dig at Akhtar after Pakistan lost the final.</p>

<p>Responding to Akhtar's 'heartbreak' post following Pakistan's loss, Shami wrote - "Sorry brother. It's called Karma". The reason behind Shami's response is not known but many believe it came as a reaction to Akhtar questioning his selection in India's T20 World Cup squad as a replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the start of the tournament.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sorry brother<br />
<br />
It’s call karma 💔💔💔 <a href="https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd">https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd</a></p>
— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) <a href="https://twitter.com/MdShami11/status/1591759931862298624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Afridi was asked about his views on the tweet from Shami during a debate on Pakistan's Samaa TV. The former Pakistan captain expressed his disappointment over Shami's antics and said cricketers are role models in India and Pakistan and they should work to improve the relations between the two countries.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20wc-pakistan-cricket-fraternity-sends-messages-for-babar-azam-led-team-after-they-lose-to-england-in-final-533829">From Shahid Afridi to Umar Akmal: Pakistan cricket fraternity mourns T20 World Cup defeat</a></p>

<p>Afridi urged Shami to not cultivate hate with his actions and said not much can be expected of the general public if role models will not take responsibility to reduce hatred between the two nations.</p>

<p>"We shouldn't do things that cultivate hate. If we start doing such things, what can we expect from the common people," said Afridi.</p>

<p>"We are cricketers, we are ambassadors and role models. We should try to end all of this. We are neighbors. Our relationships improve with sports. We want to play with them, see them play in Pakistan," he added.</p>

<p>Afridi further said even retired cricketers should not engage in such controversies while advising Shami, who is still an active member of the Indian squad, to avoid making such comments.</p>

<p>"Even if you are retired, you shouldn't do this. But you are a part of the current team, you should avoid such things," said Afridi.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-karma-mohammed-shami-responds-to-shoaib-akhtars-tweet-after-pakistan-lose-t20-world-cup-final-533783">'It's karma': Mohammed Shami responds to Shoaib Akhtar's tweet after Pakistan lose T20 World Cup final</a></p>

<p>Pakistan were restricted to a low-key total of 137 runs, batting first in the blockbuster final at the MCG on Sunday. Their top-order failed to deliver as the Men in Green culdn't post a big total on the board. In reply, Ben Stokes slammed an unbeaten fifty to take England home with an over to spare.</p>

<p>England bagged their second T20 World Cup title and became the first team to hold both the ODI and the T20 World Cup trophy simultaneously in men's cricket.</p>

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Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi responded to Indian pacer Mohammed Shami's 'karma' jibe at Shoaib Akhtar following Pakistan's defeat in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday (November 13).

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi responded to Indian pacer Mohammed Shami's 'karma' jibe at Shoaib Akhtar following Pakistan's defeat in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday (November 13). Shami took to Twitter to take a dig at Akhtar after Pakistan lost the final. Responding to Akhtar's 'heartbreak' post following Pakistan's loss, Shami wrote - "Sorry brother. It's called Karma". The reason behind Shami's response is not known but many believe it came as a reaction to Akhtar questioning his selection in India's T20 World Cup squad as a replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the start of the tournament. Sorry brother It’s call karma 💔💔💔 https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd — Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) November 13, 2022 × Afridi was asked about his views on the tweet from Shami during a debate on Pakistan's Samaa TV. The former Pakistan captain expressed his disappointment over Shami's antics and said cricketers are role models in India and Pakistan and they should work to improve the relations between the two countries. Also Read: From Shahid Afridi to Umar Akmal: Pakistan cricket fraternity mourns T20 World Cup defeat Afridi urged Shami to not cultivate hate with his actions and said not much can be expected of the general public if role models will not take responsibility to reduce hatred between the two nations. "We shouldn't do things that cultivate hate. If we start doing such things, what can we expect from the common people," said Afridi. "We are cricketers, we are ambassadors and role models. We should try to end all of this. We are neighbors. Our relationships improve with sports. We want to play with them, see them play in Pakistan," he added. Afridi further said even retired cricketers should not engage in such controversies while advising Shami, who is still an active member of the Indian squad, to avoid making such comments. "Even if you are retired, you shouldn't do this. But you are a part of the current team, you should avoid such things," said Afridi. Also Read: 'It's karma': Mohammed Shami responds to Shoaib Akhtar's tweet after Pakistan lose T20 World Cup final Pakistan were restricted to a low-key total of 137 runs, batting first in the blockbuster final at the MCG on Sunday. Their top-order failed to deliver as the Men in Green culdn't post a big total on the board. In reply, Ben Stokes slammed an unbeaten fifty to take England home with an over to spare. England bagged their second T20 World Cup title and became the first team to hold both the ODI and the T20 World Cup trophy simultaneously in men's cricket. ×

We shouldn’t cultivate hate: Shahid Afridi reacts to Mohammed Shami's 'karma' tweet for Shoaib Akhtar

<p>Pakistan lost the T20 World Cup 2022 final to England at the MCG, Melbourne on November 13 (Sunday). After being asked to bat first, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green only managed a below-par 137 for 8 and despite a spirited performance with the bat, the 2009 winners failed to prevent an England win as the Jos Buttler-led Three Lions won by five wickets and an over to spare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the defeat, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared a post on Twitter, with a heartbroken emoticon. Indian pacer Md Shami was quick to respond and made heads turn with his reply. Shami wrote, "Sorry brother, it's call karma." To this, Akhtar also didn't hold back and&nbsp;posted an image which contained a tweet of renowned cricket presenter Harsha Bhogle. The caption read, "Credit to Pakistan. Few teams would have defended 137 the way they did. Best bowling team."</p>

<p>Since then, the Twitter interaction between Shami and Akhtar has become a major talking point. Former Pakistan pacer and captain Wasim Akram has now joined in and criticised Shami for his response.&nbsp;</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sorry brother<br />
<br />
It’s call karma 💔💔💔 <a href="https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd">https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd</a></p>
— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) <a href="https://twitter.com/MdShami11/status/1591759931862298624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ben-stokes-joins-gambhir-sangakkara-in-elite-club-after-match-winning-52-in-t20-wc-final-vs-pakistan-534069">Ben Stokes joins Gambhir, Sangakkara in elite club after match-winning 52* in T20 WC final vs Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>Speaking on Pakistan's channel A Sports, Akram said, "We should stay neutral. Indians are patriotic about their country, and I'm fine with that, we are patriotic about our country. But instead of that, jalti pe tel daalna, tweet pe tweet karna, just don't do it man."</p>

<p>It is to be noted that Indian and Pakistani fans were at loggerheads throughout the just-concluded T20 World Cup in Australia. After India's humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of eventual winners England in the semi-finals, many Pakistani cricket fans had trolled the Indians whereas the latter returned the favour after Babar &amp; Co.'s final loss.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about India and Pakistan, the two teams met in their respective Super 12 openers at the MCG, Melbourne on October 23. In a riveting clash, Virat Kohli's 82 not out took Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. past the finish line in pursuit of 160. The two heavyweights were expected to meet in the finale but India bowed out with a heavy defeat at the hands of England in the second semi-finals.&nbsp;</p>


Pakistan lost the T20 World Cup 2022 final to England at the MCG, Melbourne on November 13 (Sunday). After being asked to bat first, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green only managed a below-par 137 for 8 and despite a spirited performance with the bat, the 2009 winners failed to prevent an England win as the Jos Buttler-led Three Lions won by five wickets and an over to spare.

Pakistan lost the T20 World Cup 2022 final to England at the MCG, Melbourne on November 13 (Sunday). After being asked to bat first, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green only managed a below-par 137 for 8 and despite a spirited performance with the bat, the 2009 winners failed to prevent an England win as the Jos Buttler-led Three Lions won by five wickets and an over to spare. After the defeat, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared a post on Twitter, with a heartbroken emoticon. Indian pacer Md Shami was quick to respond and made heads turn with his reply. Shami wrote, "Sorry brother, it's call karma." To this, Akhtar also didn't hold back and posted an image which contained a tweet of renowned cricket presenter Harsha Bhogle. The caption read, "Credit to Pakistan. Few teams would have defended 137 the way they did. Best bowling team." Since then, the Twitter interaction between Shami and Akhtar has become a major talking point. Former Pakistan pacer and captain Wasim Akram has now joined in and criticised Shami for his response. Sorry brother It’s call karma 💔💔💔 https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd — Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) November 13, 2022 × ALSO READ | Ben Stokes joins Gambhir, Sangakkara in elite club after match-winning 52* in T20 WC final vs Pakistan Speaking on Pakistan's channel A Sports, Akram said, "We should stay neutral. Indians are patriotic about their country, and I'm fine with that, we are patriotic about our country. But instead of that, jalti pe tel daalna, tweet pe tweet karna, just don't do it man." It is to be noted that Indian and Pakistani fans were at loggerheads throughout the just-concluded T20 World Cup in Australia. After India's humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of eventual winners England in the semi-finals, many Pakistani cricket fans had trolled the Indians whereas the latter returned the favour after Babar & Co.'s final loss. Talking about India and Pakistan, the two teams met in their respective Super 12 openers at the MCG, Melbourne on October 23. In a riveting clash, Virat Kohli's 82 not out took Rohit Sharma & Co. past the finish line in pursuit of 160. The two heavyweights were expected to meet in the finale but India bowed out with a heavy defeat at the hands of England in the second semi-finals.

'Just don't do it man' - Wasim Akram reacts to Md Shami-Shoaib Akhtar Twitter feud after T20 WC final

<p>Indian pacer Mohammed Shami took a dig at former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar on social media after England won the T20 World Cup 2022 title on Sunday. England defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with an over to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).</p>

<p>Many had touted Pakistan to repeat their feat from the 1992 ODI World Cup where the Imran Khan-led side went on to beat England in the final to win their maiden World Cup trophy. However, their World Cup dream was shattered by England, who produced an emphatic all-round performance to clinch their second title.</p>

<p>Following Pakistan's loss in the final, Akhtar took to Twitter to share a heartbreak emoji to express his disappointment. Shami was quick to respond to Akhtar's tweet and said it was 'Karma'.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sorry brother<br />
<br />
It’s call karma <a href="https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd">https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd</a></p>
— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) <a href="https://twitter.com/MdShami11/status/1591759931862298624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-thrash-pakistan-by-five-wickets-in-final-to-clinch-t20-world-cup-2022-title-533750">England thrash Pakistan by five wickets in final to clinch T20 World Cup 2022 title</a></p>

<p>While the reason behind Shami's response is not known, some fans were quick to point out the former Pakistan pacer had questioned the senior Indian pacer's selection in the T20 World Cup squad. Shami was roped in as a replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah&nbsp;by the Indian team ahead of the start of the tournament in Australia.</p>

<p>In the final at the MCG on Sunday, England won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first. The openers got off too a cautious start but England soon started making inroads into the Pakistan batting line-up with Sam Curran and Adil Rashid running riot with the ball.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-script-history-become-first-team-to-hold-both-mens-odi-and-t20-world-cup-titles-533759">England script history, become first team to hold both men's ODI and T20 World Cup titles</a></p>

<p>Curran picked up a three-wicket haul while conceding only 12 runs off his fur overs, while Rashid finished his four overs with excellent figures of 2/22. With the help of the duo's bowing heroics, England managed to restrict Pakistan to 137/8 in 20 overs.</p>

<p>In reply, England got off to a shaky start losing both Alex Hales (1) and Philip Salt (10) cheaply but a fiery start from Jos Buttler, who scored 26 off 17 balls ensured his team didn't lag behind when it came to run rate. Ben Stkes then scored a match-winning 52 off 49 deliveries to take his team home comfortably.</p>

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Indian pacer Mohammed Shami took a dig at former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar on social media after England won the T20 World Cup 2022 title on Sunday. England defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with an over to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami took a dig at former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar on social media after England won the T20 World Cup 2022 title on Sunday. England defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with an over to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Many had touted Pakistan to repeat their feat from the 1992 ODI World Cup where the Imran Khan-led side went on to beat England in the final to win their maiden World Cup trophy. However, their World Cup dream was shattered by England, who produced an emphatic all-round performance to clinch their second title. Following Pakistan's loss in the final, Akhtar took to Twitter to share a heartbreak emoji to express his disappointment. Shami was quick to respond to Akhtar's tweet and said it was 'Karma'. Sorry brother It’s call karma https://t.co/DpaIliRYkd — Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) November 13, 2022 × Also Read: England thrash Pakistan by five wickets in final to clinch T20 World Cup 2022 title While the reason behind Shami's response is not known, some fans were quick to point out the former Pakistan pacer had questioned the senior Indian pacer's selection in the T20 World Cup squad. Shami was roped in as a replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah by the Indian team ahead of the start of the tournament in Australia. In the final at the MCG on Sunday, England won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first. The openers got off too a cautious start but England soon started making inroads into the Pakistan batting line-up with Sam Curran and Adil Rashid running riot with the ball. Also Read: England script history, become first team to hold both men's ODI and T20 World Cup titles Curran picked up a three-wicket haul while conceding only 12 runs off his fur overs, while Rashid finished his four overs with excellent figures of 2/22. With the help of the duo's bowing heroics, England managed to restrict Pakistan to 137/8 in 20 overs. In reply, England got off to a shaky start losing both Alex Hales (1) and Philip Salt (10) cheaply but a fiery start from Jos Buttler, who scored 26 off 17 balls ensured his team didn't lag behind when it came to run rate. Ben Stkes then scored a match-winning 52 off 49 deliveries to take his team home comfortably. ×

'It's karma': Mohammed Shami responds to Shoaib Akhtar's tweet after Pakistan lose T20 World Cup final

<p>Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded the England batters for their terrific performance in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 against India but warned them not to expect anything similar against Pakistan in the final. England and Pakistan are currently locking horns in a blockbuster final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with the T20 World Cup trophy on the line.</p>

<p>England demolished India in the second semi-final where they chased down the target of 169 runs without losing a wicket to hand Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. a devastating ten-wicket defeat. Openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales went all guns blazing at the top as they slammed half-centuries apiece to stay unbeaten and take England home.</p>

<p>It was a stunning batting performance from England as they booked a spot in the final against Pakistan. While Buttler &amp; Co. will be hoping to replicate their semi-final performance in the summit clash, Akhtar has urged them to be wary of Pakistan's quality pace attack.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-vs-england-t20-world-cup-final-prediction-can-babar-azam-emulate-imran-khans-1992-feat-533702">Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup final prediction: Can Babar Azam emulate Imran Khan's 1992 feat?</a></p>

<p>"The difference [in the final as compared to the semi-final] is that England are in a comprehensive position, their confidence will be sky-rocketing. England know Pakistan bowlers are not like India. They will have to work hard to win, they won't get a walkover," Akhtar said in a video speaking about the T20 World Cup 2022 final.</p>

<p>Pakistan have the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr who have delivered the goods with the ball for them in the tournament so far. All four pacers are part of Pakistan's playing XI in the ongoing final and will be hopeful of winning the game for their team.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-sends-special-message-to-england-team-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-final-533686">UK PM Rishi Sunak sends special message to England team ahead of T20 World Cup final</a></p>

<p>Pakistan's fast bowlers have played an instrumental role in their journey to the final in the T20 World Cup. They have the best economy rate among all teams in the tournament and have managed to be among the wickets to help Pakistan bounce back from their sluggish start in the competition.</p>

<p>It remains to be seen if England, who have an incredible batting depth, will be able to counter Pakistan's pace attack in the final to lift the trophy for the second time.</p>

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Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded the England batters for their terrific performance in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 against India but warned them not to expect anything similar against Pakistan in the final.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded the England batters for their terrific performance in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 against India but warned them not to expect anything similar against Pakistan in the final. England and Pakistan are currently locking horns in a blockbuster final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with the T20 World Cup trophy on the line. England demolished India in the second semi-final where they chased down the target of 169 runs without losing a wicket to hand Rohit Sharma & Co. a devastating ten-wicket defeat. Openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales went all guns blazing at the top as they slammed half-centuries apiece to stay unbeaten and take England home. It was a stunning batting performance from England as they booked a spot in the final against Pakistan. While Buttler & Co. will be hoping to replicate their semi-final performance in the summit clash, Akhtar has urged them to be wary of Pakistan's quality pace attack. Also Read: Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup final prediction: Can Babar Azam emulate Imran Khan's 1992 feat? "The difference [in the final as compared to the semi-final] is that England are in a comprehensive position, their confidence will be sky-rocketing. England know Pakistan bowlers are not like India. They will have to work hard to win, they won't get a walkover," Akhtar said in a video speaking about the T20 World Cup 2022 final. Pakistan have the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr who have delivered the goods with the ball for them in the tournament so far. All four pacers are part of Pakistan's playing XI in the ongoing final and will be hopeful of winning the game for their team. Also Read: UK PM Rishi Sunak sends special message to England team ahead of T20 World Cup final Pakistan's fast bowlers have played an instrumental role in their journey to the final in the T20 World Cup. They have the best economy rate among all teams in the tournament and have managed to be among the wickets to help Pakistan bounce back from their sluggish start in the competition. It remains to be seen if England, who have an incredible batting depth, will be able to counter Pakistan's pace attack in the final to lift the trophy for the second time. ×

Pakistan bowlers are not like Indians, England won't get a walkover: Shoaib Akhtar on T20 World Cup final

<p>Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after his team's disappointing exit from T20 World Cup 2022. India suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against England in the second semi-final to crash out of the tournament on Thursday (November 10).</p>

<p>Akhtar said Rohit looked a bit depressed as captain and his body language was quite off during the tournament. The Indian skipper struggled with the bat throughout the tournament and was not able to deliver at the top. He managed to score only 115 runs in six matches in what was a forgetful campaign for the Indian captain.</p>

<p>Akhtar advised Rohit, who missed a number of series in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, to spend more time with his team stating that captaincy is not an easy job. He also questioned whether Rohit was ready to take up captaincy when Kohli stepped down last year.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-fractured-his-rib-but-didnt-make-a-noise-sourav-ganguly-explains-why-tendukar-was-special-533514">Sachin fractured his rib but didn't make a noise: Sourav Ganguly explains why Tendulkar was special</a></p>

<p>"Was he ready for the captaincy? I still haven't received an answer to this question. We all knew that he wanted to be the skipper. But this is not an easy task to do. You have to live and breathe captaincy and also have to sacrifice family life. That is why Rohit should be spending more time with the team which will help him in building the team as well. He just looked a bit depressed and off,"&nbsp;Akhtar said on Zee News.</p>

<p>Akhtar further said he doesn't see Rohit continuing as the captain of the current Indian team. Rohit was appointed as India's captain across all three formats earlier this year after Kohli's exit as skipper. He has since failed to inspire the team to success&nbsp;in his first two major tournaments - the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-2022-final-explained-what-will-happen-if-the-marquee-final-gets-washed-out-at-the-mcg-533297">Pak vs ENG, T20 WC final: EXPLAINED! What will happen if the marquee tie gets washed out at the MCG?</a></p>

<p>"With captaincy comes responsibility. If the team performs, you get the credit but when you face criticism, you don't point fingers at anyone. And Rohit Sharma's continuation, I won't be able to see that (mujhse dekha nehi jayegi) because he is close to his retirement in T20 format," Akhtar added.</p>

<p>After knocking India out of the competition, England will take on Pakistan in a much-awaited final on Sunday (November 13). The summit clash will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.</p>

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Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after his team's disappointing exit from T20 World Cup 2022. India suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against England in the second semi-final to crash out of the tournament on Thursday (November 10).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after his team's disappointing exit from T20 World Cup 2022. India suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against England in the second semi-final to crash out of the tournament on Thursday (November 10). Akhtar said Rohit looked a bit depressed as captain and his body language was quite off during the tournament. The Indian skipper struggled with the bat throughout the tournament and was not able to deliver at the top. He managed to score only 115 runs in six matches in what was a forgetful campaign for the Indian captain. Akhtar advised Rohit, who missed a number of series in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, to spend more time with his team stating that captaincy is not an easy job. He also questioned whether Rohit was ready to take up captaincy when Kohli stepped down last year. Also Read: Sachin fractured his rib but didn't make a noise: Sourav Ganguly explains why Tendulkar was special "Was he ready for the captaincy? I still haven't received an answer to this question. We all knew that he wanted to be the skipper. But this is not an easy task to do. You have to live and breathe captaincy and also have to sacrifice family life. That is why Rohit should be spending more time with the team which will help him in building the team as well. He just looked a bit depressed and off," Akhtar said on Zee News. Akhtar further said he doesn't see Rohit continuing as the captain of the current Indian team. Rohit was appointed as India's captain across all three formats earlier this year after Kohli's exit as skipper. He has since failed to inspire the team to success in his first two major tournaments - the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. Also Read: Pak vs ENG, T20 WC final: EXPLAINED! What will happen if the marquee tie gets washed out at the MCG? "With captaincy comes responsibility. If the team performs, you get the credit but when you face criticism, you don't point fingers at anyone. And Rohit Sharma's continuation, I won't be able to see that (mujhse dekha nehi jayegi) because he is close to his retirement in T20 format," Akhtar added. After knocking India out of the competition, England will take on Pakistan in a much-awaited final on Sunday (November 13). The summit clash will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne. ×

Rohit Sharma looked depressed and off: Shoaib Akhtar after India's disappointing exit from T20 World Cup

<p>Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar wants to see arch-rivals India and Pakistan take on each other in a blockbuster clash in the final of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022. Both India and Pakistan managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament after South Africa's shock defeat against Netherlands on Sunday (November 06).</p>

<p>South Africa were favourites to qualify from Group 2 with five points from their first four games. However, a surprise defeat against Netherlands in their last game paved way for Pakistan to make it to the knockout stages. Babar Azam &amp; Co. defeated Bangladesh by five wickets on the final day of the Super 12 stage to finish in the second spot in Group 2 and make it to the next round.</p>

<p>While Pakistan will face New Zealand in the semi-finals, table-toppers India will go up against Jos Buttler-led England. Akhtar is hopeful of both India and Pakistan winning their respective semi-finals to ensure fans from both nations get treated to another mouth-watering clash between the arch-rivals with the trophy on the line.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2022-india-thrash-zimbabwe-by-71-runs-to-top-group-2-book-semi-final-clash-against-england-531641">India thrash Zimbabwe by 71 runs to top Group 2, clash with England in semi-final</a></p>

<p>"Hopefully, India and Pakistan don’t return home after the semi-finals. I want to watch an India-Pakistan final. The broadcasters and the ICC will have the most fun is this happens," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.</p>

<p>The legendary Pakistani pacer insisted it will be a 'big joke' if both India and Pakistan lose their semi-final matches. Akhtar believes Pakistan haven't played their best cricket in the tournament yet but feels they have a strong chance to beat New Zealand considering their past record against the Kiwis.</p>

<p>"We are hoping to meet India once again. All of you were saying that we’ve been eliminated. If both teams get knocked out in the semi-finals, it’ll become a big joke. Pakistan needs to win their semi-final. Now it depends on how India wants to play," said Akhtar.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-lauds-suryakumar-yadav-calls-him-the-player-of-the-tournament-in-t20-world-cup-2022-531674">Gautam Gambhir lauds Suryakumar Yadav, calls him the Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>"Pakistan are up against New Zealand, their track record is that they are usually scored of us. New Zealand’s record against Pakistan has not been good. They lose a lot against us. Pakistan hasn’t played the best cricket. Our openers are struggling with the bounce. Babar could’ve made some runs today but he’s been struggling," he added.</p>

<p>Pakistan will face New Zealand in the first semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday (Nove,ber 09) before India take on England at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday (November 10).</p>

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Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar wants to see arch-rivals India and Pakistan take on each other in a blockbuster clash in the final of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar wants to see arch-rivals India and Pakistan take on each other in a blockbuster clash in the final of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022. Both India and Pakistan managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament after South Africa's shock defeat against Netherlands on Sunday (November 06). South Africa were favourites to qualify from Group 2 with five points from their first four games. However, a surprise defeat against Netherlands in their last game paved way for Pakistan to make it to the knockout stages. Babar Azam & Co. defeated Bangladesh by five wickets on the final day of the Super 12 stage to finish in the second spot in Group 2 and make it to the next round. While Pakistan will face New Zealand in the semi-finals, table-toppers India will go up against Jos Buttler-led England. Akhtar is hopeful of both India and Pakistan winning their respective semi-finals to ensure fans from both nations get treated to another mouth-watering clash between the arch-rivals with the trophy on the line. Also Read: India thrash Zimbabwe by 71 runs to top Group 2, clash with England in semi-final "Hopefully, India and Pakistan don’t return home after the semi-finals. I want to watch an India-Pakistan final. The broadcasters and the ICC will have the most fun is this happens," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel. The legendary Pakistani pacer insisted it will be a 'big joke' if both India and Pakistan lose their semi-final matches. Akhtar believes Pakistan haven't played their best cricket in the tournament yet but feels they have a strong chance to beat New Zealand considering their past record against the Kiwis. "We are hoping to meet India once again. All of you were saying that we’ve been eliminated. If both teams get knocked out in the semi-finals, it’ll become a big joke. Pakistan needs to win their semi-final. Now it depends on how India wants to play," said Akhtar. Also Read: Gautam Gambhir lauds Suryakumar Yadav, calls him the Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup 2022 "Pakistan are up against New Zealand, their track record is that they are usually scored of us. New Zealand’s record against Pakistan has not been good. They lose a lot against us. Pakistan hasn’t played the best cricket. Our openers are struggling with the bounce. Babar could’ve made some runs today but he’s been struggling," he added. Pakistan will face New Zealand in the first semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday (Nove,ber 09) before India take on England at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday (November 10). ×

Want to watch an India-Pakistan final, says Shoaib Akhtar as arch-rivals qualify for T20 World Cup semis

<p>Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was delighted after South Africa suffered a shock defeat against Netherlands in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday (November 06). Like millions of cricket fans in the country, Akhtar too woke up to the news of South Africa's defeat which paved way for Pakistan's entry into the semi-finals of the competition.</p>

<p>Heading into the final day of the Super 12 stage on Sunday, Pakistan needed a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals with just four points from as many matches. Having played tremendous cricket in the group stage, South Africa were touted to win against minnow Netherlands and confirm their spot in the top four.</p>

<p>However, South Africa lost by 13 runs which made Pakistan's clash against Bangladesh a virtual semi-final. An elated Akhtar thanked South Africa and labeled them 'big chokers' after their surprise defeat kept Pakistan alive in the tournament despite having suffered heartbreaking losses against India and Zimbabwe.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/almost-choked-sachin-tendulkar-takes-a-cheeky-dig-at-south-africa-as-they-get-knocked-out-from-t20-wc-531603">'Almost choked...': Sachin Tendulkar takes a cheeky dig at South Africa as they get knocked out from T20 WC</a></p>

<p>"I just woke up. Thank you, South Africa. You guys are big chokers because you gave Pakistan another chance. It was a big favour. All Pakistan needs to do is just go out there and win this game," Akhtar said in a video posted on Twitter.</p>

<p>"I didn’t think Pakistan deserved this chance after losing to Zimbabwe but Pakistan got a lifeline, a lottery. I think Bangladesh are great people but we need this World Cup, we need to see India once all over again," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you South Africa. You've lived upto the 'c' word. Worked in our benefit.<br />
Pakistan, now stay tight. Go on &amp; win this. <a href="https://t.co/MCl1oz6ZHC">pic.twitter.com/MCl1oz6ZHC</a></p>
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1589148172227842048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Pakistan secured a spot in the semi-finals after beating Bangladesh by five wickets in their must-win final Super 12 game in Adelaide on Sunday. With the equation clear that a win would see them make it to the knockout stages, Pakistan delivered a clinical performance with the bat and the ball against Bangladesh.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-thrash-bangladesh-by-five-wickets-to-miraculously-seal-semi-final-spot-in-t20-world-cup-2022-531590">Pakistan thrash Bangladesh by five wickets to miraculously seal semi-final spot in T20 World Cup 2022</a></p>

<p>Brilliant spells from Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan saw Pakistan restrict Bangladesh to a low-key total of 127 runs before the Men in Green chased down the target with eleven balls to spare. With the win, Pakistan moved to the top spot on the points table in Group 2 with six points from five matches and a better net run rate of +1.028 than India.</p>

<p>However, India will have a chance to reclaim the top spot with a win against Zimbabwe in their final Super 12 clash in Melbourne on Sunday. India and Pakistan will meet England or New Zealand in the semi-finals.</p>

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Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was delighted after South Africa suffered a shock defeat against Netherlands in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday (November 06).

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was delighted after South Africa suffered a shock defeat against Netherlands in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday (November 06). Like millions of cricket fans in the country, Akhtar too woke up to the news of South Africa's defeat which paved way for Pakistan's entry into the semi-finals of the competition. Heading into the final day of the Super 12 stage on Sunday, Pakistan needed a miracle to qualify for the semi-finals with just four points from as many matches. Having played tremendous cricket in the group stage, South Africa were touted to win against minnow Netherlands and confirm their spot in the top four. However, South Africa lost by 13 runs which made Pakistan's clash against Bangladesh a virtual semi-final. An elated Akhtar thanked South Africa and labeled them 'big chokers' after their surprise defeat kept Pakistan alive in the tournament despite having suffered heartbreaking losses against India and Zimbabwe. Also Read: 'Almost choked...': Sachin Tendulkar takes a cheeky dig at South Africa as they get knocked out from T20 WC "I just woke up. Thank you, South Africa. You guys are big chokers because you gave Pakistan another chance. It was a big favour. All Pakistan needs to do is just go out there and win this game," Akhtar said in a video posted on Twitter. "I didn’t think Pakistan deserved this chance after losing to Zimbabwe but Pakistan got a lifeline, a lottery. I think Bangladesh are great people but we need this World Cup, we need to see India once all over again," he added. Thank you South Africa. You've lived upto the 'c' word. Worked in our benefit. Pakistan, now stay tight. Go on & win this. pic.twitter.com/MCl1oz6ZHC — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 6, 2022 × Pakistan secured a spot in the semi-finals after beating Bangladesh by five wickets in their must-win final Super 12 game in Adelaide on Sunday. With the equation clear that a win would see them make it to the knockout stages, Pakistan delivered a clinical performance with the bat and the ball against Bangladesh. Also Read: Pakistan thrash Bangladesh by five wickets to miraculously seal semi-final spot in T20 World Cup 2022 Brilliant spells from Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan saw Pakistan restrict Bangladesh to a low-key total of 127 runs before the Men in Green chased down the target with eleven balls to spare. With the win, Pakistan moved to the top spot on the points table in Group 2 with six points from five matches and a better net run rate of +1.028 than India. However, India will have a chance to reclaim the top spot with a win against Zimbabwe in their final Super 12 clash in Melbourne on Sunday. India and Pakistan will meet England or New Zealand in the semi-finals. ×

'You are big chokers': Shoaib Akhtar thanks South Africa as Pakistan qualify for T20 World Cup semis

<p>On Thursday (November 03), former Pakistan Prime Minister&nbsp;Imran Khan was injured after a firing during his 'real freedom' rally in Wazirabad. The shocking incident took place at the Zafarali Khan Chowk.&nbsp;As per video footage on Geo TV, the former Pakistan cricket captain suffered three-four gunshots in his right leg. While the assassination attempt has left the entire country in a state of shock, the party officials confirmed that Imran is safe. Nonetheless, there is one causality as one person is reported to have been killed in the firing.</p>

<p>Many compared the attack with the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto being assassinated at a rally back in 2007. Since the incident, reactions have been pouring in from all corners. Pakistan's cricket fraternity also joined in with the likes of captain Babar Azam, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and many others sharing their reactions on Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After leading Pakistan to a much-needed win over South Africa in a crucial Super 12 clash in the T20 World Cup, Babar took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, "Strongly condemn this heinous attack on&nbsp;@ImranKhanPTI. May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan, Ameen."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Strongly condemn this heinous attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a>. May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan, Ameen.</p>
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258/status/1588150793185775618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-among-five-injured-after-firing-during-pti-rally-in-pakistan-530857"><strong>'Assassination attempt' on Imran Khan: Pakistan ex-PM sustains gunshots, two aides also injured</strong></a></p>

<p>Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram wrote, "Deeply disturbed about the events unfolding in Wazirabad. Our prayers with Imran BHAI and everyone there. We as a country must come together and not allow anyone to distort our national unity."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Deeply disturbed about the events unfolding in Wazirabad . Our prayers with Imran BHAI and everyone there. We as a country must come together and not allow anyone to distort our national unity.</p>
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) <a href="https://twitter.com/wasimakramlive/status/1588145015095787522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Akhtar, who remains vocal on various aspects across the globe on Twitter, wrote, "Heard about the attack on&nbsp;@ImranKhanPTI. Alhamdolillah he is fine and in good spirits. This clip of him is from after the attack.&nbsp;I strongly condemn the attack."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heard about the attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> . Alhamdolillah he is fine and in good spirits. This clip of him is from after the attack.<br />
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I strongly condemn the attack. <a href="https://t.co/VeFxFIYf8p">pic.twitter.com/VeFxFIYf8p</a></p>
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1588149592629051393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Md Hafeez also reacted and tweeted saying, "Strongly condemn the attack on&nbsp; @ImranKhanPTI.&nbsp;May he stay safe &amp; get well soon. Aameen."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Strongly condemn the attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a>. May he stay safe &amp; get well soon. Aameen 🤲🏼</p>
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) <a href="https://twitter.com/MHafeez22/status/1588145789217669120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Khan's successor and current Pak PM&nbsp;Shehbaz Sharif also joined in and tweeted, “I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words. I have directed Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident. I pray for the recovery and health of PTI chairman &amp; other injured people.”</p>


On Thursday (November 03), former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was injured after a firing during his 'real freedom' rally in Wazirabad. The shocking incident took place at the Zafarali Khan Chowk.

On Thursday (November 03), former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was injured after a firing during his 'real freedom' rally in Wazirabad. The shocking incident took place at the Zafarali Khan Chowk. As per video footage on Geo TV, the former Pakistan cricket captain suffered three-four gunshots in his right leg. While the assassination attempt has left the entire country in a state of shock, the party officials confirmed that Imran is safe. Nonetheless, there is one causality as one person is reported to have been killed in the firing. Many compared the attack with the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto being assassinated at a rally back in 2007. Since the incident, reactions have been pouring in from all corners. Pakistan's cricket fraternity also joined in with the likes of captain Babar Azam, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and many others sharing their reactions on Twitter. After leading Pakistan to a much-needed win over South Africa in a crucial Super 12 clash in the T20 World Cup, Babar took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, "Strongly condemn this heinous attack on @ImranKhanPTI. May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan, Ameen." Strongly condemn this heinous attack on @ImranKhanPTI. May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan, Ameen. — Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 3, 2022 × ALSO READ | 'Assassination attempt' on Imran Khan: Pakistan ex-PM sustains gunshots, two aides also injured Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram wrote, "Deeply disturbed about the events unfolding in Wazirabad. Our prayers with Imran BHAI and everyone there. We as a country must come together and not allow anyone to distort our national unity." Deeply disturbed about the events unfolding in Wazirabad . Our prayers with Imran BHAI and everyone there. We as a country must come together and not allow anyone to distort our national unity. — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) November 3, 2022 × Akhtar, who remains vocal on various aspects across the globe on Twitter, wrote, "Heard about the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. Alhamdolillah he is fine and in good spirits. This clip of him is from after the attack. I strongly condemn the attack." Heard about the attack on @ImranKhanPTI . Alhamdolillah he is fine and in good spirits. This clip of him is from after the attack. I strongly condemn the attack. pic.twitter.com/VeFxFIYf8p — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 3, 2022 × Md Hafeez also reacted and tweeted saying, "Strongly condemn the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. May he stay safe & get well soon. Aameen." Strongly condemn the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. May he stay safe & get well soon. Aameen 🤲🏼 — Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) November 3, 2022 × Khan's successor and current Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif also joined in and tweeted, “I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words. I have directed Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident. I pray for the recovery and health of PTI chairman & other injured people.”

Babar Azam, Shoaib Akhtar and others react after attack on ex-PM Imran Khan during long march

<p>In pursuit of a modest 131, in Perth, Babar Azam-led Pakistan were 88 for 3 in 13.3 overs before they collapsed and were restricted to 129 for 8 to lose by one run in their Super 12 clash versus Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, on Thursday (October 27).</p>

<p>After a last-ball defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India, many expected Pakistan to get off the mark in their face-off versus the Craig Ervine-led African side. However, the lowly-ranked side opted to bat first and only managed 130/8 but&nbsp;kept fighting hard and held their nerves to go past the 2009 winners by a run on the last ball of the epic clash.</p>

<p>Following Pakistan's shocking defeat, many former cricketers have slammed the Men in Green team management. Shoaib Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express, also lashed out at his national side and also predicted India's fortunes in the mega event in Australia. While Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. are at the top of Group B, Akhtar feels Pakistan will return home next week and India will follow suit after a semi-final defeat.</p>

<p>"I had already told Pakistan that they will come back this week. And India will come back next week after playing in the semi-final. Voh bhi koi Tees Maar Khan nahi hai (India are also not some unbeatable side) and we are even worse," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.</p>

<p>Akhtar then shifted his focus on Team Pakistan's flaws and said, "I have been saying this repeatedly, these openers, the middle order aren’t good enough for us to get success at this level. What can I say? Pakistan have a bad captain. Pakistan is out of the world cup in the second game. Against Zimbabwe. Babar, come one down but he is not listening. Major flaw in Shaheen Afridi’s fitness. A major flaw in captaincy."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-how-can-pakistan-still-enter-t20-wc-semi-finals-after-shocking-result-vs-zimbabwe-529112">EXPLAINED: How Pakistan can still enter T20 WC semi-finals after shocking result vs Zimbabwe</a></strong></p>

<p>A dejected Akhtar further opined, "What kind of cricket do you want to play? For god’s sake, you have lost to Zimbabwe. Don’t you understand your cricket is deteriorating? The management and the PCB chairman don’t have brains … We had to play 4 bowlers, and we played 3 fast bowlers. A proper middle order is needed, you are selecting something else."</p>

<p>The former pacer was also unimpressed with Pakistan going ahead with Shan Masood and overlooking Fakhar Zaman. Masood has had scores of 52 not out and 44&nbsp;in the two games.</p>

<p>"Two good openers were needed who can use the 30-yard circle. Fakhar Zaman is sitting there; you didn’t use him. He is a back-foot player, and would do well in Australia…It’s really really embarrassing. Ultimately, it’s not you but we have to face the media. We have to sit in India. We have to give answers to the world. What answers can we give now? No plans, no middle order, no openers … I was saying if Zimbabwe bowled length balls, they would win here. I don’t have trust in this team," Akhtar added.</p>

<p>At the post-match presentation, Babar said, "We would have taken 130 at the halfway stage. Very disappointing performance, we are not up to the mark in batting. We have good batters but both openers got out in the powerplay. When Shadab and Shan were building partnership, unfortunately Shadab got out and then back-to-back wickets that pushed us into pressure situation. First 6 overs, we haven't used the new ball well but we finished well with the ball. We will sit out, discuss our mistakes and we will train hard and come back strong in our next game."</p>


In pursuit of a modest 131, in Perth, Babar Azam-led Pakistan were 88 for 3 in 13.3 overs before they collapsed and were restricted to 129 for 8 to lose by one run in their Super 12 clash versus Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, on Thursday (October 27).

In pursuit of a modest 131, in Perth, Babar Azam-led Pakistan were 88 for 3 in 13.3 overs before they collapsed and were restricted to 129 for 8 to lose by one run in their Super 12 clash versus Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, on Thursday (October 27). After a last-ball defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India, many expected Pakistan to get off the mark in their face-off versus the Craig Ervine-led African side. However, the lowly-ranked side opted to bat first and only managed 130/8 but kept fighting hard and held their nerves to go past the 2009 winners by a run on the last ball of the epic clash. Following Pakistan's shocking defeat, many former cricketers have slammed the Men in Green team management. Shoaib Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express, also lashed out at his national side and also predicted India's fortunes in the mega event in Australia. While Rohit Sharma & Co. are at the top of Group B, Akhtar feels Pakistan will return home next week and India will follow suit after a semi-final defeat. "I had already told Pakistan that they will come back this week. And India will come back next week after playing in the semi-final. Voh bhi koi Tees Maar Khan nahi hai (India are also not some unbeatable side) and we are even worse," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel. Akhtar then shifted his focus on Team Pakistan's flaws and said, "I have been saying this repeatedly, these openers, the middle order aren’t good enough for us to get success at this level. What can I say? Pakistan have a bad captain. Pakistan is out of the world cup in the second game. Against Zimbabwe. Babar, come one down but he is not listening. Major flaw in Shaheen Afridi’s fitness. A major flaw in captaincy." ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: How Pakistan can still enter T20 WC semi-finals after shocking result vs Zimbabwe A dejected Akhtar further opined, "What kind of cricket do you want to play? For god’s sake, you have lost to Zimbabwe. Don’t you understand your cricket is deteriorating? The management and the PCB chairman don’t have brains … We had to play 4 bowlers, and we played 3 fast bowlers. A proper middle order is needed, you are selecting something else." The former pacer was also unimpressed with Pakistan going ahead with Shan Masood and overlooking Fakhar Zaman. Masood has had scores of 52 not out and 44 in the two games. "Two good openers were needed who can use the 30-yard circle. Fakhar Zaman is sitting there; you didn’t use him. He is a back-foot player, and would do well in Australia…It’s really really embarrassing. Ultimately, it’s not you but we have to face the media. We have to sit in India. We have to give answers to the world. What answers can we give now? No plans, no middle order, no openers … I was saying if Zimbabwe bowled length balls, they would win here. I don’t have trust in this team," Akhtar added. At the post-match presentation, Babar said, "We would have taken 130 at the halfway stage. Very disappointing performance, we are not up to the mark in batting. We have good batters but both openers got out in the powerplay. When Shadab and Shan were building partnership, unfortunately Shadab got out and then back-to-back wickets that pushed us into pressure situation. First 6 overs, we haven't used the new ball well but we finished well with the ball. We will sit out, discuss our mistakes and we will train hard and come back strong in our next game."

T20 WC: India not an unbeatable side, we are even worse, says Shoaib Akhtar after Pakistan lose to Zimbabwe

<p>India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in the last-ball thriller on Sunday in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 to get off to a winning start in the tournament. However, their top-order woes were left exposed once again during the game as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma failed to fire.</p>

<p>The Men in Blue rode on Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 and a crucial 40-run-knock from Hardik Pandya to chase down the tricky target of 160 runs after a poor start at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said that&nbsp;the Indian openers looked scared against the Pakistan pacers in the powerplay.</p>

<p>Both Rahul and Rohit were dismissed for four runs each leaving India in a spot of bother early in the high-pressure chase. While Rahul played one onto his stumps against Naseem&nbsp;Shah after being beaten by pace, Rohit edged one from Haris Rauf to get caught at first slip.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-official-reacts-as-indian-players-skip-lunch-return-to-hotel-after-being-served-cold-food-in-sydney-528523">ICC official reacts as Indian players skip lunch after being served 'cold sandwiches' in Sydney</a></p>

<p>It was a horrendous start for&nbsp;India and their woes were further compounded when both Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel too departed cheaply leaving the team reeling on 31/4 at one stage in the run-chase. Akhtar said the Indian openers looked under pressure and advised Rohit to stay calm.</p>

<p>"India’s openers are looking a little under pressure and scared. Rohit needs to calm down as a captain, his batting is bearing the brunt of it," said the former Pakistan pacer in a video on his YouTube channel where he analysed&nbsp;the game.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-huge-upset-andy-balbirnie-joshua-little-star-as-ireland-stun-2010-winners-england-on-dls-method-528471">Huge upset! Andy Balbirnie, Joshua Little star as Ireland stun 2010 winners England on DLS method</a></p>

<p>Akhtar also praised Kohli for his match-winning 82 and labelled it the greatest knock of his career so far. However, the former Pakistan pacer also surprisingly urged Kohli to retire from T20Is and focus on ODIs, arguing that the senior batter can score more hundreds in the 50-over format.</p>

<p>Rahul and Rohit's performances in big matches have been a concern for the Indian team for a while now and the openers will be hoping to prove the notion wrong going forward in the T20 World Cup this year. India will face Netherlands in their next Super 12 clash on Thursday.</p>


India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in the last-ball thriller on Sunday in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 to get off to a winning start in the tournament. However, their top-order woes were left exposed once again during the game as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma failed to fire.

India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in the last-ball thriller on Sunday in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 to get off to a winning start in the tournament. However, their top-order woes were left exposed once again during the game as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma failed to fire. The Men in Blue rode on Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 and a crucial 40-run-knock from Hardik Pandya to chase down the tricky target of 160 runs after a poor start at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has said that the Indian openers looked scared against the Pakistan pacers in the powerplay. Both Rahul and Rohit were dismissed for four runs each leaving India in a spot of bother early in the high-pressure chase. While Rahul played one onto his stumps against Naseem Shah after being beaten by pace, Rohit edged one from Haris Rauf to get caught at first slip. Also Read: ICC official reacts as Indian players skip lunch after being served 'cold sandwiches' in Sydney It was a horrendous start for India and their woes were further compounded when both Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel too departed cheaply leaving the team reeling on 31/4 at one stage in the run-chase. Akhtar said the Indian openers looked under pressure and advised Rohit to stay calm. "India’s openers are looking a little under pressure and scared. Rohit needs to calm down as a captain, his batting is bearing the brunt of it," said the former Pakistan pacer in a video on his YouTube channel where he analysed the game. Also Read: Huge upset! Andy Balbirnie, Joshua Little star as Ireland stun 2010 winners England on DLS method Akhtar also praised Kohli for his match-winning 82 and labelled it the greatest knock of his career so far. However, the former Pakistan pacer also surprisingly urged Kohli to retire from T20Is and focus on ODIs, arguing that the senior batter can score more hundreds in the 50-over format. Rahul and Rohit's performances in big matches have been a concern for the Indian team for a while now and the openers will be hoping to prove the notion wrong going forward in the T20 World Cup this year. India will face Netherlands in their next Super 12 clash on Thursday.

Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma looked scared against Pakistan pacers: Shoaib Akhtar

<p>Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded Virat Kohli after his fabulous knock against the Men in Green in the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday. Kohli scored a match-winning unbeaten 82 as India clinched a thrilling four-wicket win against their arch-rivals to get off to a flying start in the tournament.</p>

<p>India were in a spot of bother at one stage in the tricky 160-run chase as they found themselves reeling at 31/4 inside just seven overs. However, Kohli then took charge and combined with Hardik Pandya to take the game down the wire before slaughtering the Pakistan bowlers in the death overs.</p>

<p>Kohli helped India chase down 48 runs off the last three overs to register one of their most memorable wins against Pakistan in recent times and truly announce his comeback after a prolonged lean patch earlier this year. Akhtar hailed Kohli as one of the greatest of all time and labeled his knock as the best of his career so far.</p>

<p>&nbsp;"According to me, he played the greatest innings of his life against Pakistan. He played like this because he had the self-belief that he will do it," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thrill-drama-and-emotions-relive-nerve-wracking-last-over-between-india-and-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-527829">Thrill, drama and emotions: Relive nerve-wracking last over between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup</a></p>

<p>The former Pakistan pacer, who has been an avid supporter of the senior India batter, had backed him continuously during his rough patch. Akhtar said the game against Pakistan was the perfect one for Kohli to announce his comeback and he did that in stellar fashion with a memorable knock.</p>

<p>"He was down and out for 3 years, he didn’t score runs, he was stripped of his captaincy and a lot of people said a lot of things to him. People even dragged his family into it but he kept training and put in the graft and just a day before Diwali, he played a firecracker on an innings. He decided that this place and this stage is perfect for his comeback. The king is back and he is back with a bang and I am really happy for him. He is a great cricketer," said Akhtar.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-dont-have-eagle-eyes-shahid-afridi-slams-umpires-over-controversial-no-ball-call-in-india-pakistan-clash-528216">You don't have eagle eyes: Shahid Afridi slams umpires over controversial no-ball call in India-Pakistan clash</a></p>

<p>The Pakistan great then went on to urge the senior India batter to consider retiring from the shortest format arguing that he can score many more centuries if he concentrates on ODIs. Akhtar said Kohli could have scored three centuries in ODIs with half of the effort that he put into his 82-run-knock against Pakistan on Sunday.</p>

<p>"I want him to retire from T20I because I don’t want that he puts his entire energy in T20I cricket. If he used all his might like he did today, he can score three centuries in ODIs," said Akhtar.</p>

<p>Kohli was struggling with his form and was also dealing with significant mental pressure due to his poor performance just a few months back. However, the Indian superstar put his head down and worked hard to script a fairytale comeback and redeem himself at the grandest stage of them all.</p>

<p>He will be looking to continue his purple patch with the willow when India take on Netherlands in their next Super 12 clash on Thursday.</p>


Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded Virat Kohli after his fabulous knock against the Men in Green in the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday. Kohli scored a match-winning unbeaten 82 as India clinched a thrilling four-wicket win against their arch-rivals to get off to a flying start in the tournament.

Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar lauded Virat Kohli after his fabulous knock against the Men in Green in the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday. Kohli scored a match-winning unbeaten 82 as India clinched a thrilling four-wicket win against their arch-rivals to get off to a flying start in the tournament. India were in a spot of bother at one stage in the tricky 160-run chase as they found themselves reeling at 31/4 inside just seven overs. However, Kohli then took charge and combined with Hardik Pandya to take the game down the wire before slaughtering the Pakistan bowlers in the death overs. Kohli helped India chase down 48 runs off the last three overs to register one of their most memorable wins against Pakistan in recent times and truly announce his comeback after a prolonged lean patch earlier this year. Akhtar hailed Kohli as one of the greatest of all time and labeled his knock as the best of his career so far. "According to me, he played the greatest innings of his life against Pakistan. He played like this because he had the self-belief that he will do it," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel. Also Read: Thrill, drama and emotions: Relive nerve-wracking last over between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup The former Pakistan pacer, who has been an avid supporter of the senior India batter, had backed him continuously during his rough patch. Akhtar said the game against Pakistan was the perfect one for Kohli to announce his comeback and he did that in stellar fashion with a memorable knock. "He was down and out for 3 years, he didn’t score runs, he was stripped of his captaincy and a lot of people said a lot of things to him. People even dragged his family into it but he kept training and put in the graft and just a day before Diwali, he played a firecracker on an innings. He decided that this place and this stage is perfect for his comeback. The king is back and he is back with a bang and I am really happy for him. He is a great cricketer," said Akhtar. Also Read: You don't have eagle eyes: Shahid Afridi slams umpires over controversial no-ball call in India-Pakistan clash The Pakistan great then went on to urge the senior India batter to consider retiring from the shortest format arguing that he can score many more centuries if he concentrates on ODIs. Akhtar said Kohli could have scored three centuries in ODIs with half of the effort that he put into his 82-run-knock against Pakistan on Sunday. "I want him to retire from T20I because I don’t want that he puts his entire energy in T20I cricket. If he used all his might like he did today, he can score three centuries in ODIs," said Akhtar. Kohli was struggling with his form and was also dealing with significant mental pressure due to his poor performance just a few months back. However, the Indian superstar put his head down and worked hard to script a fairytale comeback and redeem himself at the grandest stage of them all. He will be looking to continue his purple patch with the willow when India take on Netherlands in their next Super 12 clash on Thursday.

'I want him to retire': Shoaib Akhtar after Virat Kohli's marvellous knock sinks Pakistan in T20 World Cup

<p>Pakistan and England were involved in a thrilling seven-match T20I series, in Pakistan, which ended on Sunday evening (October 02). Being asked to bat first in Lahore, Moeen Ali-led English side posted a daunting 209 for 3 in 20 overs riding on Dawid Malan's 47-ball 78 and useful knocks from others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In reply, Babar Azam-led Men in Green were expected to chase down the score at the jam-packed Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore. Babar and Md Rizwan -- the No. 1 T20I batter -- have been Pakistan's most consistent batters in recent times but the opening pair couldn't do much and got dismissed for 4 and 1, respectively. Shan Masood's 56 was the only shining aspect for Pakistan in their run-chase as they were restricted for 148 for 8 to lose by 67&nbsp;runs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thus, the series was finally won by England 4-3 after trailing 2-3 after the first five encounters. After the series, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar has expressed concerns over Babar &amp; Co.'s middle order and is 'scared' of the team's chances in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, where he fears the one-time winners might bow out in the first round (Super 12).</p>

<p>"Pakistan middle-order is not good. If the openers don't perform, the middle-order collapses. This is not the way you go into the World Cup and win the World Cup. It will not work this way. Even in terms of the World Cup, I hope Pakistan don't crash out in the first round. I'm scared with this team. That is why I criticized Saqlain and others to get your middle-order, batting order in order. Somehow they're not listening," Akhtar said on his Youtube channel.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/viral-video-yusuf-pathan-mitchell-johnson-involve-in-ugly-altercation-in-legends-league-cricket-521962"><strong>Yusuf Pathan, Mitchell Johnson's ugly altercation in Legends League Cricket goes viral - Watch</strong></a></p>

<p>"But hopefully, Pakistan make a good comeback in the World Cup and in New Zealand tri-series. I like to see Pakistan doing well and it is disheartening to see them lose. But Pakistan is in a dire situation and from here things aren't going to be easy for them. Hopefully they will learn a thing or two from my videos and improve their middle order. Babar cannot perform in every game," the ex-pacer further asserted.</p>

<p>Pakistan's middle-order woes were exposed even in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, where they lost the final to Sri Lanka by 23 runs in pursuit of 170. They are heavily dependent on Babar-Rizwan whereas the other middle-order batters haven't impressed much in the opportunities provided to them in crunch situations.</p>


Pakistan and England were involved in a thrilling seven-match T20I series, in Pakistan, which ended on Sunday evening (October 02). Being asked to bat first in Lahore, Moeen Ali-led English side posted a daunting 209 for 3 in 20 overs riding on Dawid Malan's 47-ball 78 and useful knocks from others.

Pakistan and England were involved in a thrilling seven-match T20I series, in Pakistan, which ended on Sunday evening (October 02). Being asked to bat first in Lahore, Moeen Ali-led English side posted a daunting 209 for 3 in 20 overs riding on Dawid Malan's 47-ball 78 and useful knocks from others. In reply, Babar Azam-led Men in Green were expected to chase down the score at the jam-packed Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore. Babar and Md Rizwan -- the No. 1 T20I batter -- have been Pakistan's most consistent batters in recent times but the opening pair couldn't do much and got dismissed for 4 and 1, respectively. Shan Masood's 56 was the only shining aspect for Pakistan in their run-chase as they were restricted for 148 for 8 to lose by 67 runs. Thus, the series was finally won by England 4-3 after trailing 2-3 after the first five encounters. After the series, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar has expressed concerns over Babar & Co.'s middle order and is 'scared' of the team's chances in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, where he fears the one-time winners might bow out in the first round (Super 12). "Pakistan middle-order is not good. If the openers don't perform, the middle-order collapses. This is not the way you go into the World Cup and win the World Cup. It will not work this way. Even in terms of the World Cup, I hope Pakistan don't crash out in the first round. I'm scared with this team. That is why I criticized Saqlain and others to get your middle-order, batting order in order. Somehow they're not listening," Akhtar said on his Youtube channel. ALSO READ | Yusuf Pathan, Mitchell Johnson's ugly altercation in Legends League Cricket goes viral - Watch "But hopefully, Pakistan make a good comeback in the World Cup and in New Zealand tri-series. I like to see Pakistan doing well and it is disheartening to see them lose. But Pakistan is in a dire situation and from here things aren't going to be easy for them. Hopefully they will learn a thing or two from my videos and improve their middle order. Babar cannot perform in every game," the ex-pacer further asserted. Pakistan's middle-order woes were exposed even in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, where they lost the final to Sri Lanka by 23 runs in pursuit of 170. They are heavily dependent on Babar-Rizwan whereas the other middle-order batters haven't impressed much in the opportunities provided to them in crunch situations.

'I hope Pakistan don't....' - Shoaib Akhtar 'scared' of Babar Azam & Co.'s T20 World Cup chances

<p>Virat Kohli returned to international cricket in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, post the England tour, and announced his comeback in style. He ended the tournament with 276 runs -- second-most overall -- including two half-centuries and a hundred. Thus, the 33-year-old ended his international century drought, since late 2019, by finally reaching his 71st ton at the highest level.</p>

<p>With Kohli returning to form, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team management will breathe a sigh of relief despite their dismal run at the Asia Cup, eventually won by Sri Lanka. Going ahead into the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November, the Indian star batter will now look to carry on in similar stead in the home series versus Australia and South Africa and go big in the forthcoming mega&nbsp;event Down Under. Prior to the T20 WC, where India will look to end their ICC-title drought, Pakistan's former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has made a bold prediction.</p>

<p>"Kohli might just take retirement after the T20 World Cup. He may do that to extend his longevity in the other formats. If I was him, I would have looked at the larger picture and taken a call," Akhtar said in a LIVE session hosted by<em>&nbsp;India.com.</em></p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shouldnt-reach-stage-where-shahid-afridis-advice-for-virat-kohli-on-international-retirement-515768">'Shouldn't reach stage where....': Shahid Afridi's advice for Virat Kohli on international retirement</a></strong></p>

<p>Seeing Kohli's blitz in the continental tournament, held in the UAE, Shahid Afridi recently gave retirement advice to the former Indian captain. "The way Virat has played, the start that he had to his career, there was a struggle initially before he made a name for himself. He is a champion and I believe there comes a stage when you are headed towards retirement. But in that scenario, the aim should be to go out on a high," Afridi told Samaa TV.</p>

<p>"It shouldn't reach a stage where you are dropped from the team and instead when you are at your peak. It seldom happens though. Very few players, especially cricketers from Asia Cup make that decision, but I feel when Virat does it, he will do it style and probably in the same manner in which he started his career," the former Pakistan captain and all-rounder concluded.</p>

<p>Seeing Kohli's fitness, it is highly unlikely that he will retire post the T20 WC. But given India have plenty of young batters waiting in the wings, he might just sideline himself from the format with the ODI World Cup to be played in India in late 2023.</p>


Virat Kohli returned to international cricket in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, post the England tour, and announced his comeback in style. He ended the tournament with 276 runs -- second-most overall -- including two half-centuries and a hundred.

Virat Kohli returned to international cricket in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, post the England tour, and announced his comeback in style. He ended the tournament with 276 runs -- second-most overall -- including two half-centuries and a hundred. Thus, the 33-year-old ended his international century drought, since late 2019, by finally reaching his 71st ton at the highest level. With Kohli returning to form, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team management will breathe a sigh of relief despite their dismal run at the Asia Cup, eventually won by Sri Lanka. Going ahead into the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November, the Indian star batter will now look to carry on in similar stead in the home series versus Australia and South Africa and go big in the forthcoming mega event Down Under. Prior to the T20 WC, where India will look to end their ICC-title drought, Pakistan's former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has made a bold prediction. "Kohli might just take retirement after the T20 World Cup. He may do that to extend his longevity in the other formats. If I was him, I would have looked at the larger picture and taken a call," Akhtar said in a LIVE session hosted by India.com. ALSO READ | 'Shouldn't reach stage where....': Shahid Afridi's advice for Virat Kohli on international retirement Seeing Kohli's blitz in the continental tournament, held in the UAE, Shahid Afridi recently gave retirement advice to the former Indian captain. "The way Virat has played, the start that he had to his career, there was a struggle initially before he made a name for himself. He is a champion and I believe there comes a stage when you are headed towards retirement. But in that scenario, the aim should be to go out on a high," Afridi told Samaa TV. "It shouldn't reach a stage where you are dropped from the team and instead when you are at your peak. It seldom happens though. Very few players, especially cricketers from Asia Cup make that decision, but I feel when Virat does it, he will do it style and probably in the same manner in which he started his career," the former Pakistan captain and all-rounder concluded. Seeing Kohli's fitness, it is highly unlikely that he will retire post the T20 WC. But given India have plenty of young batters waiting in the wings, he might just sideline himself from the format with the ODI World Cup to be played in India in late 2023.

Virat Kohli might just take retirement from shortest format after T20 World Cup, predicts Shoaib Akhtar

<p>Things went out of hand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Wednesday evening (September 7) after Babar Azam-led Pakistan edged past Afghanistan by one wicket in a last-over thriller at the Asia Cup. In another riveting Super Four clash, Babar &amp; Co. chased down a tricky 130-run target, after being reduced to 110/8, courtesy of Naseem Shah's twin sixes in the last over.</p>

<p>With this, Pakistan booked a spot in the final where they will face Sri Lanka on September 11 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Meanwhile, Pakistan's win led to both Afghanistan and India being&nbsp;eliminated. As a result, the Afghan fans went berserk and created a huge ruckus by&nbsp;breaking chairs and throwing them at Pakistan supporters in the stands. The video of Afghan-Pakistani&nbsp;fans' unruly exchange went viral in no time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-asif-ali-fareed-malik-involve-in-ugly-exchange-in-last-over-thriller-between-pakistan-afghanistan-513974">Watch: Asif Ali, Fareed Malik involve in ugly exchange in last-over thriller between Pakistan-Afghanistan</a></strong></p>

<p>Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared the clip on his Twitter account and wrote, "This is what Afghan fans are doing. This is what they've done in the past multiple times. This is a game and it's supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd &amp; your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport."</p>

<section>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is what Afghan fans are doing.<br />
This is what they've done in the past multiple times.This is a game and its supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.<a href="https://twitter.com/ShafiqStanikzai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShafiqStanikzai</a> your crowd &amp; your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport. <a href="https://t.co/rg57D0c7t8">pic.twitter.com/rg57D0c7t8</a></p>
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1567589651598172161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>It seems like the situation has gone south&nbsp;on Twitter as well. Following the former Pakistan speedster's tweet, ex-Afghanistan Cricket Board's chief Shafiq Stanikzai came hard at him and replied, "You can't control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzamam Bhai and @iRashidLatif68 how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena (Don't include the whole nation from next time)."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You can’t control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzimam Bhai and <a href="https://twitter.com/iRashidLatif68?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iRashidLatif68</a> how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena <a href="https://t.co/JQTgzWBNqL">https://t.co/JQTgzWBNqL</a></p>
— Shafiq Stanikzai (@ShafiqStanikzai) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShafiqStanikzai/status/1567590990013427712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-is-looking-uncomfortable-he-is-shouting-screaming-says-shoaib-akhtar-after-indias-asia-cup-exit-514008"><strong>Rohit looking uncomfortable, was shouting &amp; screaming, says Akhtar after India's Asia Cup debacle</strong></a></p>

<p>This isn't the first such incident when Afghanistan-Pakistan fans created a huge scene and made heads turn for all the wrong reasons post a face-off between both teams. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, the supporters of both the Asian teams were involved in a&nbsp;series of scuffles at Leeds, Headingley after the then Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green defeated the Afghan line-up by three wickets in an exciting contest.</p>

<p>The rivalry between both sides has made a lot of noise in recent times. <strong>Here's how the last four face-offs between Pakistan-Afghanistan have panned out:</strong></p>

<p>Asia Cup 2018: Pakistan won with 3 balls to spare<br />
ODI World Cup 2019: Pak won with 2 balls to spare<br />
T20I World Cup 2021: Pak won with 6 balls to spare<br />
Asia Cup 2022: Babar &amp; Co. won with 4 balls to spare</p>
</section>


Things went out of hand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Wednesday evening (September 7) after Babar Azam-led Pakistan edged past Afghanistan by one wicket in a last-over thriller at the Asia Cup.

Things went out of hand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Wednesday evening (September 7) after Babar Azam-led Pakistan edged past Afghanistan by one wicket in a last-over thriller at the Asia Cup. In another riveting Super Four clash, Babar & Co. chased down a tricky 130-run target, after being reduced to 110/8, courtesy of Naseem Shah's twin sixes in the last over. With this, Pakistan booked a spot in the final where they will face Sri Lanka on September 11 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Meanwhile, Pakistan's win led to both Afghanistan and India being eliminated. As a result, the Afghan fans went berserk and created a huge ruckus by breaking chairs and throwing them at Pakistan supporters in the stands. The video of Afghan-Pakistani fans' unruly exchange went viral in no time. ALSO READ | Watch: Asif Ali, Fareed Malik involve in ugly exchange in last-over thriller between Pakistan-Afghanistan Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar shared the clip on his Twitter account and wrote, "This is what Afghan fans are doing. This is what they've done in the past multiple times. This is a game and it's supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport." This is what Afghan fans are doing. This is what they've done in the past multiple times.This is a game and its supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport. pic.twitter.com/rg57D0c7t8 — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 7, 2022 × It seems like the situation has gone south on Twitter as well. Following the former Pakistan speedster's tweet, ex-Afghanistan Cricket Board's chief Shafiq Stanikzai came hard at him and replied, "You can't control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzamam Bhai and @iRashidLatif68 how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena (Don't include the whole nation from next time)." You can’t control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzimam Bhai and @iRashidLatif68 how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena https://t.co/JQTgzWBNqL — Shafiq Stanikzai (@ShafiqStanikzai) September 7, 2022 × ALSO READ | Rohit looking uncomfortable, was shouting & screaming, says Akhtar after India's Asia Cup debacle This isn't the first such incident when Afghanistan-Pakistan fans created a huge scene and made heads turn for all the wrong reasons post a face-off between both teams. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, the supporters of both the Asian teams were involved in a series of scuffles at Leeds, Headingley after the then Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green defeated the Afghan line-up by three wickets in an exciting contest. The rivalry between both sides has made a lot of noise in recent times. Here's how the last four face-offs between Pakistan-Afghanistan have panned out: Asia Cup 2018: Pakistan won with 3 balls to spare ODI World Cup 2019: Pak won with 2 balls to spare T20I World Cup 2021: Pak won with 6 balls to spare Asia Cup 2022: Babar & Co. won with 4 balls to spare

Asia Cup: Shoaib Akhtar, ex-ACB chief at loggerheads after unruly scene between Pakistan-Afghanistan fans

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