The New Zealand T20 series win marks a historical achievement for Team India, as being the first team to clinch a 5-0 whitewash victory in any bilateral T20 series ever. The Indian players have showcased marvellous individual talents, as the hosts were absolutely dominated throughout the matches, inducing two consecutive super over wins for Virat Kohli and the squad. While the New Zealand squad is on the pedestall from the fans for a lackluster display of performance, a cricketing icon has taken a jab at the Kiwis, and its none other than former Pakistani international Shoaib Akhtar!
Shoaib Akhtar, the superstar Pakistani pacer who hung his boots in 2011, runs his own YouTube channel, where he shares his two cents about the major events occurring in the cricketing world.
A well known admirer of the Indian cricket team, Akhtar released a video following India’s fifth victory of the series in the final match of the series on Sunday, where the 44 year old called the Men in Blue’s victory a ‘proper ragra’, while also criticising the Black Caps for their dull display.
In the video, Akhtar stated that he was ‘disheartened’ on New Zealand, called their performance as ‘foolish cricket’ and even singled out some players in his rant.
He said: “What we have seen today again, it’s just stupid. I think now that New Zealand will have to be told: “Dear kids, this is how you have to play, how to score runs, take singles also”. Who loses 3 wickets in an over yaar (friend)? The last match too, they did the same. I really really fail to understand what they are doing,” referring to the third T20 match which went to super over after New Zealand lost three batsmen in the last over.
Ross Taylor, despite scoring two half centuries in the first and last game of the series, couldn’t keep hold to his wicket while on pitch, as Akhtar continued: “But really painful to see such a senior player as Taylor not finishing games for New Zealand. It just looks stupid to me. I am really angry to see what brand of cricket they are playing. So disheartening to see that New Zealand are playing foolish cricket.”
He also added that the scoreline could have been different as the super overs were easily tied in favour of the hosts: “Believe me, that (scoreline) could have been 3-2 easily if New Zealand had shown some maturity. But again you know, they said ‘no we have to lose 5-0 to India.”
Watch the full video here-
The ODI series between India and New Zealand kicks off tomorrow at the Seddon Park cricket ground.
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Shoaib Akhtar advocates adding a ‘G’ before Rohit Sharma’s name to represent the word ‘Great’
