Former India opener Kris Srikkanth who was part of 1983 World Cup 1983 triumph has slammed the Salman Agha-led Pakistan team, terming them as 'seventh division'. Srikkanth feels that India-Pakistan rivalry is a thing of past and the current team should not be in the top seven. He went on to compare them with a rookie team in a Chennai League.
"Going forward, Pakistan shouldn't be playing with the main teams. Have them among the Associate nations and bring a few of the others there here. It's a big thing for Pakistan that they are even allowed to play in such a prestigious tournament," said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
"Pakistan should be removed from the top seven. From hereon, India-Pakistan matches won't attract crowds. India-Pakistan rivalry has become history. This Pakistan team will give us no scare. This is a seventh division team in a Chennai league," he added.
Srikkanth blasts Pakistan head coach
Srikkanth also criticised Pakistan's current head coach, New Zealand's Mike Hesson. He believes that Pakistan will not excel if Hesson continues to be at the helm.
"Mike Hesson will be back with his statements on how they are a very good team and they were unlucky in the last match against India. You'll go nowhere with Mike Hesson as your coach," said the former India chief selector.
Pakistan’s dramatic group stage run, batting woes continue
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been embroiled in controversy over their unfulfilled demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft after India’s handshake snub. Later, they claimed that Pycroft apologised to the captain and the team. They even posted a video without the original audio where Pycroft is talking to the captain before the group stage clash against UAE which was delayed by an hour owing to their drama.
Pakistan’s batting has been under the scanner in the ongoing tournament. They would’ve struggled to put on a fighting total had it not been for Shaheen Afridi’s cameo against UAE.
Now, they will take on India again in the Super 4 clash on September 21 at Dubai Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav-led India reached the Super 4 stage without a defeat against their name.