Shoaib Akhtar Attacks ICC For Insulting Babar Azam: Earlier this month, the ICC released a promotional video for the ODI World Cup 2023 that will take place in India in October-November. In their new video released that took the internet by storm, the ICC had Indian Bollywood mega-star Shah Rukh Khan act in it.
The appearance of Shah Rukh Khan in the World Cup 2023 video made it an instant hit with fans praising the ICC for roping in the superstar, veteran actor.
However, former Pakistan fast bowler Akhtar was left angry with the ICC for not including Pakistani skipper Babar Azam in the video. In fact, there was little glimpse of other nations and most of the video was covered with Indian and England players only.
Shoaib Akhtar felt that the ICC has insulted Pakistani skipper Babar Azam
The video was of length 2 minutes and 13 seconds, included moments from the likes of MS Dhoni hitting the 2011 World Cup final six. The video comprised of Indian players Dinesh Karthik, Shubman Gill, and women’s cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues, along with England’s 2019 World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan, South Africa’s Jonty Rhodes, and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
From the Pakistan team, pacers Wahab Riaz and Shaheen Afridi also appeared for a brief moment in it. But the absence of Babar Azam, the poster boy of Pakistan cricket, infuriated Akhtar. The video also didn’t feature any moment from Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup win.
“Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam’s significant presence, has actually presented himself as a joke. Come on guys, time to grow up a bit,” Akhtar tweeted.
Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam's significant presence, has actually presented himself as a joke.
Come on guys, time to grow up a bit.— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) July 22, 2023
The World Cup 2023 will kick-start on October 5. The epic clash between India and Pakistan is slated for 15th November in Ahmedabad. Before that, the two arch-rivals will meet in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in September.
