Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has once again stirred controversy with his remarks, this time targeting the Indian cricket team following their defeat in the 2023 World Cup final. Razzaq's comments, which went viral on social media, were made during a talk show where he discussed India's loss in the One Day International (ODI) World Cup final against Australia.
Razzaq expressed a contentious view, stating that it was beneficial for the sport that India lost the final. He justified his statement by criticizing India's approach to preparing pitches, alleging that they excessively manipulated the playing surfaces to their advantage. Razzaq argued that this approach was a factor in India not deserving to win the 2023 World Cup final.
"Indians were over-confident. Cricket won and India lost. Had India won the World Cup, it would have been a very sad moment for the game. They used conditions to their advantage and I have never seen such a bad pitch for any ICC final before. It's great for cricket that India lost," Razzaq said on the Pakistani TV show 'Hasna Mana Hai'.
He pointed to the differing nature of the semi-final matches to support his claim. The semi-final between India and New Zealand at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was a high-scoring game with nearly 700 runs. In contrast, the other semi-final at Kolkata's Eden Gardens occurred just a day later under very different pitch conditions. Razzaq emphasized that the pitch for the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium was unlike either of the semi-final pitches.
"Had India won, we would have felt very bad, because they were utilising the conditions, one semifinal they score 400, and the other team scores 350. In the other semifinal, 220-230 runs were scored. Then in the final 240 runs were scored. That means there is something wrong (with the conditions). There should be fair pitches, fair atmosphere, both teams should have balance. Today also India took advantage. Had Kohli (Virat) scored 100, then India would have won the World Cup," Razzaq added.
India's journey to the World Cup final was marked by a 10-match unbeaten streak, with the team showcasing dominant performances in most of their games. However, they were unable to maintain this momentum against Australia in the final. Batting first after losing the toss, India managed to put up a total of 240. Despite a strong start with the ball, taking three early Australian wickets, India could not sustain the pressure. Australian batsman Travis Head's remarkable century played a significant role in steering Australia to a six-wicket victory, overcoming India's challenge on the crucial day of the final. Razzaq's comments have sparked debate and discussion in the cricketing world, reflecting the intense rivalry and passion associated with the sport.
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