Pakistan's bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar who is known for his candid commentary off the field, voiced his relief over India's defeat against Bangladesh in the latest Asia Cup Super 4 match. While India decided to rest key players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, Bangladesh showcased their prowess by defeating the cricketing giants. Marking a momentous victory, this was Bangladesh's first Asia Cup win over India since 2012.
Despite a commendable innings of 121 by Shubman Gill, India fell short by just six runs in response to Bangladesh's 265/8. Reflecting on this unexpected result, Akhtar didn't mince his words. He labeled the defeat as an "embarrassing loss" for India, who had already secured their place in the tournament's final.
Sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, Akhtar remarked, "India have lost the game. Embarrassing loss. We can't criticise too much. Bangladesh are here to play. People were criticising Pakistan, saying that they got beaten up. Sri Lanka are a good team, not an average team. The same is the case with Bangladesh. They are all playing international cricket. Finally, some relief for the Pakistan fans, including me, that India have lost the game."
These observations came after Pakistan's exit from the Asia Cup, following their loss to Sri Lanka. India's commendable performances against both Pakistan and Sri Lanka had earlier ensured their spot in the finals.
Nicknamed 'The Rawalpindi Express', Akhtar further emphasized that Bangladesh is "not an average" team. He urged India to stay vigilant as they gear up to compete against Sri Lanka in the final, aiming for their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title. "What a wake-up call for India before the final. You can't take teams lightly after winning a few games. No disrespect to them, but Bangladesh made a statement that they are here to prove a point," added Akhtar.
Shifting the discussion towards the impending ODI World Cup hosted by India, Akhtar had a piece of straightforward advice for cricket enthusiasts and pundits. He stated, "We are saying that Pakistan and India are favourites at the World Cup. These two, along with Australia and England, will reach the semis. This is not the case. Keep your predictions to yourself. A strong team like India has lost to Bangladesh. Shubman Gill's century was also of no use. Small teams will trouble. This is anybody's game. Shubman Gill's ton went in vain. Now it's anybody's game in the World Cup."
In a nutshell, Akhtar's comments underscore the unpredictable nature of cricket, where David can indeed best Goliath on any given day.
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