New Delhi: Two back-to-back defeats at the hands of India in a span of one week have left Pakistani fans and ex-cricketers impatient, including Shoaib Akhtar, who told his team to get Abhishek Bachchan out early in the Sunday final. Yes, you read it right. The faux pas happened during the show Game On Hai.
“If Pakistan gets Abhishek Bachchan out, for a hypothetical situation, I’m saying, what do you think will happen to their middle order?” Akhtar said before quickly correcting it to ‘Abhishek Sharma’.
He had a warning for the team: don’t let Abhishek Sharma settle. The trick, according to Akhtar, would be to dismiss him within the powerplay.
“Mark my words, if Abhishek Sharma gets out in the first two overs, they will get in trouble… Abhishek will not mistime the ball; he will do that; you just need to go for the kill. If you come out fighting, India will realise that we have to work hard for our runs,” he added.
Not just ex-cricketers, even fans are doling out ‘expert’ advice.
The two teams will meet for the third time in the tournament in their first-ever Asia Cup final on Sunday.
Former Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram knows “anything can happen”, but he hasn’t lost hope of an apparent win. He is dishing out strategic advice on how to counter the Indian team.
“Pakistan should take confidence, momentum, back themselves, play sensible cricket… If Pakistan can take early wickets, we can put India on the back foot. I hope in the end the best team will win,” he told reporters Friday.
Shoaib Akhtar agreed. Speaking on Pakistani show Game On Hai, he advised the team to shed the mental baggage of facing the Indian team and rather play to their strengths and “break the aura”.
‘Worst rivalry in sport history’
The Indian team defeated Pakistan twice in the Asia Cup, but the matches garnered more attention for the friction between the two sides, which spilled over into their on-ground games as well.
In the first match, the two teams did not shake hands. A similar situation occurred during their subsequent meeting in the Super Four, which India won by six wickets. The match saw multiple flashpoints where the umpire had to step in between the players to avert a clash. Now, the two teams face each other in Dubai for one final match.
Cricket fans on both sides of the border were surprised. They don’t know what to expect next, and are using their best tool: humour.
X user Abdullah shared a video of a car crossing a bridge using wood railings, equating it with the manner in which Pakistan made it to the finals.
“After 50 heart attacks, 20 anxiety attacks, and 10 times falling into depression, we reached the final,” another Pakistani cricket fan noted.
But others are also hopeful. One X user made a list of all five multilateral tournaments that saw India-Pakistan face each other, with Pakistan having a lead of 3 wins. It is also the first time in five multi-nation tournaments when Pakistan is playing a final.
Others are looking back in time with cautious optimism:
“In first ever Asia Cup 1984 Pakistan & India played in 3rd & last game of Series. It was a decider btw teams with team won more games won. India Champions with 2 victories in 2 Games, Srilanka 1 win & Pak not won any game,” Pakistani X user Zohaib reminded fans.
But one user went a step ahead and decided to give some advice: “Pakistan cricket needs a vision beyond the asia cup final. Winning a final and would be so so top but it’s equally impossible. A loss with a fight and then build up on current set of players for future would do so good.”
He echoes Pakistan coach Mike Hesson, who wants the team to focus on “trying to play our best game when it matters”.
“Now it’s up to us to make the most of it. And I think all the games that have happened up to this point now have been around trying to get yourself in a position to win the trophy. And that’s what we’ve been talking about the whole time,” he told reporters after a post-match press conference.
When asked about the on-field friction, he simply asserted: “Look, my message is we just focus on cricket and that’s certainly what we’ll be doing. Those things, you probably know more about than me. I deal with the cricket side. In terms of gestures, look, there’s always a bit of passion, in terms of when you’re in high-pressure games. But we will be having our focus on playing a good game and focusing on the cricket, and that’s part of my job.”
But Pakistani fans are not convinced. An X user summed it up: “probably the worst rivalry in sport history”.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)