Team India sealed a spot in the Asia Cup 2023 final by beating Sri Lanka in their second Super 4 fixture.
It looked like the hosts might go on and claim an all-important victory over India as Dunith Wellalage, who bagged a fifer and also scored vital runs lower down the order.
When India were bundled out for 213, fans from India and Pakistan specially, messaged former pacer Shoaib Akhtar that the Men In Blue had 'fixed the game' and were trying to lose the game.
However, Akhtar hit back at those fans and called them out in a video.
"I don't know what you guys are doing. I am getting memes and messages saying 'India have fixed the game', that they are losing deliberately in order to eliminate Pakistan. Are you alright? They (Sri Lanka) are bowling their heart out. Wellalalge and Asalanka bowled their heart out. You saw that 20-year-old kid? He scored 43 runs and took 5 wickets. I am getting phonecalls from India and other countries, saying India were losing deliberately," Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Advertisement
He even questioned the fans as to why would Rohit Sharma's men would want to lose a game which would certain their position in the final. Akhtar, who is also called 'The Rawalpindi Express', praised Kuldeep Yadav who bagged four wickets in the match against Sri Lanka.
"Why would they lose, tell me? They want to go through to the final. You end up making memes without any reason. It was a great fightback from India. The way Kuldeep played, it was massive. Look at Jasprit Bumrah, look at the fight while defending a small total," Akhtar said.
Akhtar criticised his country's skipper Babar Azam and said that they 'lacked the fight' against India.
Advertisement
"Wellalage, a 20-year-old kid, is showing fight. He is batting and bowling, doing all he can. Our players (Pakistan) couldn't show this fight. Our fast bowlers don't play. When was the last they played 25-30 ODIs at a stretch? Then we expect Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah to deliver 10 overs and not get injured. I want the fight back from Pakistan. This was humiliating," Akhtar said.
