In a fun interaction, former fast bowler Shoaib Akthar and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq discussed India’s strengths before the upcoming game against Pakistan on Sunday. While he too respected India’s strong team, Misbah felt Pakistan have a chance if their bowlers could strike early blows to test Indian middle order.
At that point, Akthar lightly tapped Misbah’s arm and interjected politely, “Not to counter your argument, please forgive me”, and made his case.
“Now India have Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Verma, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav, and Jitesh Sharma … you can’t run through this team,” Akthar said on Pakistan’s OTT show TapMad.
It was Misbah’s turn now to intervene, and he did it humorously. “But Gyarah hi khelenge na lekin?! (Only 11 can play, na?). Laughter erupted amongst the panelists that also included Shoaib Malik and Umar Gul. Shoaib had kept listing out the batsmen’s names one after another, and hence that interjection from Misbah.
Now, a smiling Shoaib made one last point. “You can’t run through this team. Thinking Virat is not there and middle order can be tested. My whole argument is that this is a very strong middle order India has ever produced.”
Earlier on, he had made another strong statement, favouring India.
“What kind of cricket they (India) are going to play? It’s pretty obvious that they are going to dominate you and they are going to make sure that they are going to hammer you (Pakistan). If I stretch it far, as far as making a statement, I think they would like to play Afghanistan in the finals. Pakistan has to put the A game forward.”
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And Misbah had replied that there is an opportunity here for Pakistan that If India lose a couple of early wickets, they don’t have Virat Kohli. Their batting too is different. And they haven’t played this kind of bowlers. So Pakistan have that opportunity. You have to create that hole at the start but that’s the thing- a good start is needed.”
On another channel Samaa TV, former captain Shahid Afridi had his say on Pakistan. “We have not seen any consistent performer for Pakistan from many series. I had a lot of expectations from Hasan Nawaz.”
He also shared his disappointment with Saim Ayub. ”How much time Saim Ayub needed to adjust into the team, as he took 19 matches to notch his first fifty. We might have been ruled out of the team if we continued to perform like the current team,” Afridi said.
