The highly anticipated cricketing clash of the year is about to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as India and Pakistan face off in the 2023 Cricket World Cup this Saturday.
Both teams have made an impressive start to the quadrennial tournament, each securing two victories. As the historic rivals gear up for this mega event, legendary Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed the significance of this match for the players.
In a daring statement, Akhtar asserted that this contest is “for those with nerves of steel” rather than the faint-hearted.
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“If you are brave enough, you will enjoy the contest. If you are a coward…, this contest is not for the faint-hearted. This is a contest for people who want a big name for themselves, want themselves to be superstars,” Akhtar said in a chat on RevSportz.
The iconic fast bowler explained why Pakistan wouldn’t be in as much pressure to deliver as the Indian team. Sharing examples from personal stories, Akhtar said that painting the Indian team as favorites actually helps the Pakistan team.
“The last year I was in Dubai, I was doing a show with a channel. They painted everything blue and were talking about one thing, Team India is going to crush Pakistan. Who builds that sort of pressure? When you make us the underdogs, our pressure is over.
“What will we do now? We have nothing to lose. Pakistan is out there to help India get the biggest TRP because I believe India should create the biggest World Cup. This should be the most amazing World Cup,” he explained.
Akhtar went on to back Babar Azam’s men to beat India in their own home and emerge victorious from the World Cup.
“I also believe it would be easy for Pakistan to go there and beat India because it’s your TV right, your sponsorship, you are stuck, not us. Babar Azam & Co. should play aggressively and sensibly. It’s the Indian wickets, you’ll win. You beat India, play the final in Ahmedabad, I am with you,” Akhtar opined.
