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As team India bowled out Sri Lanka for mere 213 runs in their Asia Cup 2023 Super-4 match on Tuesday in Colombo, many fans, claimed by ex-Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, messaged him saying that India wanted to deliberately lose against Sri Lanka as they had ‘fixed the match’. However, Akhtar hit back at the fans, calling out their nonsense. India losing to Sri Lanka would have made it virtually impossible for Pakistan to qualify for Asia Cup 2023 Final, unless Bangladesh would have defeated India in their final Super-4 match on Friday (September 15).
“I don’t know what you guys are doing. I am getting memes and messages saying ‘India have fixed the game’, that they are losing deliberately in order to eliminate Pakistan. Are you alright? They (Sri Lanka) are bowling their heart out. Wellalalge and Asalanka bowled their heart out. You saw that 20-year-old kid? He scored 43 runs and took 5 wickets. I am getting phonecalls from India and other countries, saying India were losing deliberately,” Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Akhtar questioned why would India lose a match intentionally when a win would help them confirm a berth in the final.
“Why would they lose, tell me? They want to go through to the final. You end up making memes without any reason. It was a great fightback from India. The way Kuldeep played, it was massive. Look at Jasprit Bumrah, look at the fight while defending a small total,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar also criticised Pakistan cricket team for ‘lack of fight’ they showed in their Super-4 match against India.
“Wellalage, a 20-year-old kid, is showing fight. He is batting and bowling, doing all he can. Our players (Pakistan) couldn’t show this fight. Our fast bowlers don’t play. When was the last they played 25-30 ODIs at a stretch? Then we expect Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah to deliver 10 overs and not get injured. I want the fight back from Pakistan. This was humiliating,” Akhtar asserted.
While the Men in Blue are already through to the final, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play a knockout game, almost a virtual semi-final, on Thursday (September 14).
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