Wasim Akram criticized Babar Azam for his post-match friendship with Virat Kohli, which included the Pakistan captain receiving a signed jersey from the Indian batter. According to Akram, Babar should have refrained from accepting the jersey in front of the public and should have done it in private.
India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the 2023 World Cup match at the stadium named after Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Following the game, a video became popular on social media in which Babar was seen receiving a jersey with a signature from Kohli as a gift.
While the friendship between the two players was widely appreciated by social media, Wasim Akram was not too pleased. He showed his displeasure during a discussion on “The Pavilion” on A Sports.
During the show, a fan posed the following question:
“I can see Babar is receiving two shirts from Virat Kohli. Everybody is showing this clip over and over again. But after your fans are so hurt after a disappointing performance, this should be a private matter, it should not be done in an open ground.”
Wasim Akram agreed with the fan’s perspective and responded:
“That’s what I exactly said when I saw the picture [getting the shirts publicly, not privately]. Today was not the day to do this. If you want to do it – if your uncle’s son has asked you to get Kohli’s shirt – then do it after the game in the dressing room.”
Wasim Akram
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 191 in 42.5 overs. India completed the chase in 30.3 overs.
Wasim Akram Blasts Mickey Arthur for His Poor Planning in World Cup
During the broadcast, Wasim Akram also chastised Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur for claiming that the World Cup match in Ahmedabad resembled a BCCI event rather than an ICC event owing to the absence of Pakistani supporters.
Arthur, according to Akram, was chatting about nothing in particular. He also questioned Pakistan’s game preparations.
“Bhaiya hame ye batao aap logo ne kya plan kiya tha? (Brother, tell me what was the plan?) Kuldeep Yadav ko kaese khelna hai? (How did you prepare to play Kuldeep Yadav?) That’s what we want to hear. Not this random stuff. You think you can get away with this. No, you can’t, unfortunately”
Wasim Akram
In the match against India, Pakistan was decently situated at 155/2, only to lose 8 more and fall to 191 all out.