New Delhi: Pakistanis are exploiting the handshake controversy against India to draw in viewers for its upcoming series with Australia in the latest mauka mauka campaign.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, ahead of their T20I series against Australia, has released an ad showing off their hospitality. The country will host Australia in a three-match series, which will be the final event for both teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
In its latest promo video, Pakistan shows its ‘mehmaan-nawazi’ or hosting skills to the Australians. Pakistani cricketer Salman Ali Agha too is seen in the video.
The clip shows an Australian touring across Pakistan enjoying the hospitality. The international T20 captain Agha even pays for the tourist’s dinner bill after delivering a line, “Mehman ho ji aap hamaare (you are our guest).” The tourist responds with a “shukriya” before telling his local friend that he “loves the hospitality in Pakistan”.
In one such scene, a taxi driver refuses to be paid for the ride. But after the Australian exits from the cab, the driver reminds him he forgot a handshake.
“Mate, handshake bhool gaye aap! Lagta hai padosiyon ke paas bhi ruke the (You forgot to shake hands, looks like you stayed in the neighbouring country as well),” the driver said.
Also read: Mark Waugh knows how Sydney Sixers can win—‘just drop Babar Azam’
Pakistan X user, Zohaib, wrote, “PCB woke up, skipped coffee, and chose emotional damage against India.”
One X user, Haroon, said this is how Pakistan should make ads. “This is EXACTLY how you promote and market a series. PCB and our PSL team are doing amazing work of late,” he wrote.
Another said: “PCB trolling ICC”. Others, meanwhile, are so happy they want “a raise for whoever made the ad”.
However, not everyone agreed. One user wrote, “why bro why”, while another simply labelled it ‘cringe”. Another X user, Urooj, said, “kuch naya le aao pls” (bring something new).
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)