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Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram tore into current skipper Babar Azam after the latter took a signed jersey from Virat Kohli following the Green Army's defeat to Team India in the 2023 Cricket World Cup last week.
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam have a mutual admiration for each other and have often spoken highly about their contributions to the Pakistani and Indian teams, respectively.
However, the episode angered ex-Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who blasted Babar Azam for the incident.
“Everybody is showing this clip over and over again. But after your fans are so hurt after a disappointing performance, this should be a private matter, it should not be done in an open ground,” Wasim Akram said during a discussion on a Pakistan television show.
“That's what I exactly said when I saw the picture [getting the jersey publicly, not privately],” he added.
“Today was not the day to do this. If you want to do it – if your uncle's son has asked you to get Kohli's shirt – then do it after the game in the dressing room,” the former Pakistan speedster argued.
“Babar should have not met Kohli on the ground. This was not the situation to meet Kohli openly. Babar should have taken the shirt privately from Virat,” Wasim Akram insisted.
If one analyzes Pakistan's performance in the game against India, the Babar Azam-led side produced a batting display that was very Pakistan-like in Motera.
At 155/2, Pakistan had 300 in sight as two of its most senior batters, captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, were batting together in the middle.
As it appeared Pakistan was in control of the proceedings against the Indian bowlers, Mohammed Siraj produced a gem to dismiss Babar Azam, who fell for fifty off 58 balls.
Subsequently, the Pakistan middle order fell like nine-pins, with Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah emerging as the destroyers-in-chief of the Green Army's batting line-up.
Eventually, the Pakistan cricket team was dismissed for 191, with their last eight wickets adding only 37 runs on the scoreboard.
With India needing 192 to register their eighth successive victory over Pakistan in 50-over World Cups, the Men in Blue were off to a flier, with Rohit Sharma smashing the ball over the park.
Rohit Sharma, who struck a blistering hundred in the last match against Afghanistan, appeared in great nick as he dealt in boundaries and sixes throughout his knock in Motera.
The Pakistani bowlers were helpless in front of Rohit Sharma's onslaught as the Indians were on their way to a commanding win over their neighbors.
Though India lost Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in quick succession, with both contributing 16 runs each, Shreyas Iyer joined Rohit Sharma in the middle, and their 77-run partnership almost sealed the home team's triumph.
But against the run of play, Rohit Sharma, steadily moving toward his second consecutive century in this edition of the World Cup, lost his wicket to Shaheen Shah Afridi as he mistimed a slower ball from the premier Pakistan speedster.
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After Rohit Sharma's departure, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul ensured there were no more hiccups for Team India, as the hosts completed a seven-wicket triumph with more than 19 overs to spare.
However, Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur tried to find an excuse to skirt the blame for his side's poor show against India on the event's organizers.
Mickey Arthur's remarks came in the context of the heckling of Pakistani cricketers, including Muhammad Rizwan, with “Jai Shri Ram” chants during the Babar Azam-led side's clash with Team India.
“Look, I'd be lying if I said it didn't. It didn't seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event. I didn't hear ‘Dil Dil Pakistan' coming through the microphones too often tonight,” Mickey Arthur said in the post-match press conference.
“So yes, that does play a role, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse because for us it was about living the moment, it was about the next ball and it was about how we were going to combat the Indian, the Indian players tonight,” the Pakistan coach continued.
Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik and the country's ex-wicketkeeper Moin Khan were left unhappy with Mickey Arthur's remarks and instead slammed Babar Azam's side for not showing enough intent in the match against India.
“Babar's batting in terms of intent, as captain, it was not his natural game. He took 58 balls. When he came to the crease, he was in a settled pitch and situation when the first wicket fell at 41. He should've maintained the flow a bit and attacked slightly. Ye to intent hota hain a pura reflect karta hai team ke andar (The intent reflects within the team). Aapka kaptaan jab dara hua nazar ayega, nahi khelega to ladke bhi phir wese hi react karte hain (If you captain is afraid to play his shots, boys will also react similarly),” Moin Khan said on A Sports.
“They looked under pressure, and clearly, because of this, they didn't execute proper shots. Aap pehle se dare hue honge yaar mai shots khelunga to out na ho jaun(You are afraid whether you'll get out while playing the shots). I didn't see intent from any batters,” he asserted.
“Babar Azam has been running the show, this is his responsibility. Sit with the players. There should be B and C plans. When you play big teams, they counterattack your plan A, and you don't have an answer,” Shoaib Malik concluded.
Pakistan will take Australia in their next Cricket World Cup fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Chennai on October 20. The contest's outcome is significant for both sides as Australia had a poor start to the prestigious tournament, losing their first two matches against India and South Africa.
Meanwhile, table toppers India will face Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday when Rohit Sharma and his men will look to secure their fourth consecutive triumph in the competition.
The Indians have already beaten Australia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the event.
