Shahid Afridi on Pakistan in Asia Cup (Source:@HassanAbbasian/X.com)
India and Pakistan are all set to take on each other in the final of the Asia Cup for the first time in the long history. There is huge anticipation around the contest and despite India being the favourite, Pakistan has somehow managed to make it to the final.
So far in the tournament, India have twice beaten Pakistan comfortably, and some are expecting the final to go in the same direction. Now, Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan captain, has also expressed his concern over the way Men in Green have performed in the tournament.
Shahid Afridi takes sarcastic dig at affairs of Pakistan cricket
In a public event, Shahid Afridi was asked whether Pakistan missed Babar and Rizwan in the Asia Cup. The cricketer swiftly replied that with the way Pakistan have batted in this Asia Cup, Babar and Rizwan should have been there.
He was referring towards the low scores by Pakistan batter and the lack of ability to hit boundaries, one of the main reasons why Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been removed from the T20I setup. Afridi also cheekily stated that people often do not value players when they are present and then talk about them when they are gone.
"Agar isse Tarah khelna hai toh Babar ko bhi hona chahiye tha, Rizwan ko bhi hona chahiye tha. Yeh jab hote toh kadar nahi hoti, aur nahi hote toh yaad kiya jaata hai, yeh humara thoda issue hai, Shahid Afridi said in talk with journalist in Pakistan.
Shahid Afridi on Pakistan's tough challenge in Asia Cup final
Shahid Afridi further mentions that he misses Naseem Shah a lot and reckoned that he would have formed a lethal pair with Shahid Afridi in Dubai conditions. Shahid Afridi then stated that Pakistan have not played cricket at a level that is required to beat top teams in the world and cautioned that they would have to do well in all three departments against India in Asia Cup final.
"Naseem Shah ko Maine bahut miss kiya, jiss Tarah se condition thi, mere saath me shaheen ke saath Naseem ka pair outstanding perform karta. Humare Jo ladke coaches waha pe gaye hai, jiss Tarah ka khel hai woh uss level ka nahi hai. Thik hai Sri lanka, Oman ke against aap jeet jaoge, final India ke saath - bade teams ke against Batting, bowling, fielding teeno achi Karni padegi."
Thus, Shahid Afridi has clearly highlighted the hypocrisy of Pakistan cricket and has labelled India as the favourites for the upcoming Asia Cup final.
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