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Iconic pacer Wasim Akram took a sharp dig at Pakistan's team director, Mickey Arthur, for his unexpected remarks following Pakistan's heavy defeat to India at the Narendra Modi Stadium on 14 October. In the aftermath of the one-sided game, Arthur remarked that the atmosphere of the India vs. Pakistan encounter didn't resonate with the usual ambiance of an ICC event.
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Elaborating, Arthur commented on the crowd's partisanship, the DJ, and the general environment, suggesting they tilted towards the hosts. However, he was quick to add that he wouldn't leverage these as excuses for the team's underperformance.
"Look, I'd be lying if I said... It didn't seem like an ICC event, tonight, 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.
"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," he added.
Wasim Akram, providing his expert insights on Pakistan's A Sports channel, did not take kindly to Arthur's comments and sought clarity on them.
"I don't know what to make of this statement. Tell us what your plans were against Kuldeep Yadav, that's what we want to hear, not just random stuff. You think you can get away with this? You can't, unfortunately," an angry Akram said after the match.
Moin Khan, another legendary cricketer sharing the analysis panel with Akram, echoed his sentiments. He opined that Arthur seemed to be diverting attention from the real issues at hand and should be more concentrated on executing his coaching responsibilities.
"He is trying to divert now that hearts are aching. He is trying to touch an emotional chord. I think he should concentrate on his profession and not on something else. He is right in what he said, but as a coach, he should not be saying these things," said Moin Khan.
Highlighting the match, Pakistan's batting line-up wilted under pressure exerted by the Indian bowlers. From a promising position of 155/2, they were eventually bundled out for a modest 191. Responding with vigor, India's batsmen showcased their dominance, wrapping up the chase with almost 20 overs to spare.
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