Former pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has criticized the Indian media for presenting India as superior to Pakistan in world cricket. On Sunday, October 24, Pakistan beat Virat Kohli’s India by 10 wickets in the Super 12 match of the 2021 T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Shoaib believes that India and Pakistan are nearly equally balanced and that both sides can beat one another on their respective shows. He also condemned a few veteran cricketers for just using “inappropriate language” towards members of their own squad.
The 46-year-old Shoaib put forth his opinions on his official YouTube channel. “Why does the Indian media portray that their team cannot lose a match? This is cricket. Pakistan comprehensively beat India and the same can happen to Pakistan. That’s the beauty of the game,” Shoaib said.
“I understand why media do it, it is their business. I will never understand how ex-cricketers who have played cricket at the highest level use such foul language against their own cricket team after they suffer a defeat. It is extremely disappointing,” he stated.
The success on Sunday marked Pakistan’s first versus India in any World Cup edition. Considering the recent circumstances in Pakistan cricket, Shoaib believes that a victory against India is important to strengthen the confidence of their team.
Pakistan has suffered a lot in the recent past: Shoaib Akhtar
According to the Rawalpindi Express, following the victory, Pakistan’s young cricketers might try looking up to Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for motivation.
“This win against India was absolutely crucial for Pakistan, not because India is our enemy but because Pakistan has suffered a lot in recent past. From 2009, Pakistan cricket suffered, and then the New Zealand episode happened. This win is important because watching the likes of Babar and Shaheen; our children will want to emulate them which is an ultimate victory for us,” Shoaib Akhtar added.
Shaheen was awarded Player of the Match after taking 3 important wickets, including Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Indian captain Virat Kohli. Babar scored 68 runs at the beginning of the innings with Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 79.
