New Delhi: Several Pakistani TV news channels, commentators, former cricket captains and players have heaped praise on the Indian team after it scripted history by defeating Australia in a Test series at the Gabba in Brisbane Tuesday.
“India are our arch rivals. When they play well, it troubles us and when they lose, it brings us happiness. However, their performance today, for any cricket fan or cricket analyst, is hard to ignore,” said Samaa TV’s sports editor Azeem Siddiqui in a news segment Wednesday night.
India’s victory was the first time a visiting team has come out triumphant at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly referred to as the Gabba, since 1988.
The team defeated Australia at home, despite captain Virat Kohli being on paternity leave and “70-80 per cent” of the players injured in some way, Siddiqui added. He called it a “great comeback” from India’s humiliating loss in the first Test when it was bowled out for 36.
On 24/7 Urdu News, anchor and cricket analyst Babar Hayat Tuesday called India’s win under the circumstances as “the real Test of courage, of patience, of skill and of everything”. He also hailed ‘finisher’ Rishabh Pant, who bagged the man-of-the-match award.
“Rishabh Pant played amazingly. He proved all those who had ignored him, and said he didn’t have spirit, wrong. In this Test match, he has shown that he is a big deal in India,” Hayat added.
Meanwhile, on Geo News, anchor Syed Yahya Hussaini said, “The way India won the Test match in Australia without its key players — it speaks a lot about their domestic team and bench strength”. He also commended India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane for “leading from the front”.
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‘Bold, brave and boisterous’
Former Pakistani cricket captain Wasim Akram tweeted that he has not seen such a “bold, brave and boisterous Asian team on a tougher tour of Australia (sic)” and said India’s performance has been “inspiring for others”.
Incredible Test & series win for India have not seen a bold, brave & boisterous Asian team on a tougher tour of Australia. No adversity could stop them, frontline players injured, & won after a remarkable turn around from the depths of 36 all out, inspiring for others.kudos India
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) January 19, 2021
Another former Pakistani captain, Shahid Afridi, said the series will be one to remember.
Incredible performance India! Despite so many injuries and setbacks India have pulled off an astonishing series win. Congratulations to Indian team, this series will be remembered for a long time👏
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) January 19, 2021
Pakistani television host and sports presenter Zainab Abbas called Rahane “a silent assassin”.
Also @ajinkyarahane88 has been almost like the silent assassin,no amount of praise is enough for what he has achieved. #AUSvsIND
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 19, 2021
Commenting on India’s comeback from the first Test against Australia, Pakistani former cricketer, commentator and YouTuber Shoaib Akhtar said, “From 36 all out in the same series to winning it on Australia soil. Wow.”
From 36 all out in the same series to winning it on Australia soil. Wow. #IndiavsAustralia #BorderGavaskarTrophy https://t.co/V96MdnHCAC
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 19, 2021
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India is yet to win a test series in South Africa despite touring the country several times since 1992.