Rohit Sharma scored 86 runs against Pakistan (AP Image)
Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at the Pakistan team and praised India skipper Rohit Sharma for his blistering 86-run knock which set the tone for the hosts in the moderate 192-run chase.
Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at the Pakistan cricket team and hailed Rohit Sharma after India registered a clinical win in the ICC ODI World Cup match at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Akhtar, who is very vocal about his opinions, expressed his disappointment after Pakistan’s 7-wicket defeat in a one-sided affair.
Pakistan lacked intensity in both batting and bowling as they crumbled under pressure in front of around 1,00,000 fans at Narendra Modi Stadium.
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Akhtar lashed out at the Pakistan team and praised India skipper Rohit for his blistering 86-run knock which set the tone for the hosts in the moderate 192-run chase.
“Disappointing performance… a very disappointing performance. Today, India completely hammered Pakistan. Rohit Sharma was a one-man army. I don’t know where was Rohit Sharma in the last couple of years. He is a very big player and has a wide range of shots. He is a complete batter, a complete team,” he added.
Rohit looked aggressive with the bat right from the first ball where he flicked the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. The swashbuckling opener didn’t stop after and took on the Pakistan bowlers on his own by smashing them all around the park.
During his 63-ball stay, Rohit smashed six fours and as many sixes to blew away Pakistan.
Akhtar lauded Rohit and said he humiliated Pakistan bowlers with his effortless shots and took revenge for his rough patch in the last couple of years.
“The kind of innings he played, he humiliated Pakistan’s bowling attack. He took revenge for the last two years where he didn’t get many runs. Good to see Rohit Sharma back, he did right to smash the bowlers. What’s the need of finishing the game at the last overs and take it deep? Rohit hammered the bowlers,” he added.
He further slammed the Pakistan team’s playing XI for the mega clash and asserted that it didn’t look up for the big challenge.
“What did Pakistan think by playing four batters, no middle-order, no spinners, no nothing,” he added.
