Pakistan Fans Call Rohit Sharma India's Inzamam, Says Shoaib Akhtar
Published - 22 Oct 2021, 04:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:59 AM
Former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar mentioned about the popularity of Indian players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Pakistan.
Pakistan are paired with India, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Scotland, and one more team yet to be qualified in Group 2.
Pakistan people like and appreciate Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma: Shoaib Akhtar
Because of the political tensions between the two countries, both teams do not play bilateral series amongst each other anymore, and they only meet during ICC or Asia events.
Akhtar, who played 15 T20Is for Pakistan before taking retirement in 2011, said that people in his country consider India’s white-ball vice-captain in the ranks of former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.
“In Pakistan, people like and appreciate Indian cricketers. They praise Virat Kohli, they like Rohit Sharma even more. So they call him India’s Inzamam,” Akhtar told Zee News.
It would be shocking if Pakistan wins against India: Mohammad Kaif
India and Pakistan will lock horns with each other after more than five years in T20I cricket when they play their first game of the Super 12 stage on October 24 in Dubai.
Pakistan has never won against India and has lost five times against them in the T20 World Cup.
Former Indian player Mohammad Kaif said that India will have the edge over their arch-rivals because of the practice the Indian players had during IPL 2021 in UAE.
“Historically, India has always won these (World Cup) matches. But it depends on how the players perform on match day. The Indian side has an advantage that they just played the IPL in UAE and are accustomed to the conditions. Players are also in form,” Kaif said.
“It would be shocking if Pakistan wins. Of course, anything can happen in T20, but on paper, India appears to be a much stronger team,” he added.
Responding to Kaif’s view on the game, Akhtar said that the match will be won by the courage shown by the players and also acknowledged the strength of the Indian team.
Pakistan won their first warm-up game against defending champions West Indies but lost to South Africa in a nail-biting run-chase in the next match.
Meanwhile, India turned out to be victorious against England and Australia in both of their warm-up matches.
