PAK vs ZIM: “India Will Come Back Next Week After Playing Semi-final; Voh Bhi Koi Tees Maar Khan Nahi Hai” – Shoaib Akhtar's Bold World Cup Prediction

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has made a bold prediction about Team India after the defeat of Team Pakistan against Team Zimbabwe in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

On Thursday, October 27, at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Pakistan faced their second heartbreaking final-ball loss in a row in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

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Pakistan failed to chase down the target of 131 and they lost the match against Zimbabwe by 1-run. Also, in their tournament opener, they had lost against arch-rivals India by 4 wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The back-to-back defeats in the marquee tournament have now put their semi-final qualification in jeopardy.

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Shoaib Akhtar said that he had already predicted that the Men In Green won’t progress to the semi-final phase of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. He further made a bold prediction that Rohit Sharma-led India will qualify for the semi-finals, but they will lose the semi-final game and come back home.

“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.

The management and the PCB chairman don’t have brains – Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar also lashed out at Pakistan players and team management after the defeat of the side against Zimbabwe. Shoaib Akhtar said that Babar Azam is a bad skipper and the PCB chief Ramiz Raja doesn’t have a brain.

“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.

“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,” he said.

Shoaib Akhtar further criticised Pakistan’s decision to bench Fakhar Zaman and play Shan Masood in the playing XI.

“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,” he added.

Also Read: PAK vs ZIM: “Major Flaw In Captaincy, Major Flaws In The Management” – Shoaib Akhtar Slams Pakistan After World Cup Defeat To Zimbabwe