Irfan Pathan, the former Indian cricketer, didn’t miss the opportunity to have some fun at Pakistan after India’s resounding 228-run victory over their arch-rivals in the ongoing 2023 Asia Cup. Pathan is known for his occasional jabs at Pakistan, and he continued this tradition after the one-sided contest.
On the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Pathan cheekily remarked that there seemed to be a deafening silence coming from across the border, hinting that Pakistan’s neighbors might have smashed their TVs and even their phones in frustration due to their team’s dismal performance.
However, Pathan’s comment didn’t go down well with Pakistani cricket fans, who swiftly responded with their own tweets in defense of their team.
In the Super Four match between India and Pakistan, India amassed a commanding total of 356 runs. Virat Kohli played a pivotal role, initially adopting a cautious approach before shifting gears to accumulate an impressive 122 runs from 94 deliveries. KL Rahul, making his highly anticipated return, showcased his readiness for the upcoming ODI World Cup by smashing 111 runs off 106 balls.
https://x.com/IrfanPathan/status/1701284107026833505?s=20
Pakistan’s chase, on the other hand, got off to a disastrous start as they lost early wickets. India’s Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Imam-ul-Haq, while Hardik Pandya removed Babar Azam. Shardul Thakur added to Pakistan’s woes by sending Mohammad Rizwan back to the pavilion, exerting immense pressure on the Men in Green right from the outset.
Kuldeep Yadav also played a pivotal role, wreaking havoc in the middle order with a five-wicket haul. Both India and Pakistan are now set to face Sri Lanka on their designated days in their bid to advance to the tournament finals.
Read more: PCB calls in Dahani, Zaman Khan in place of Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s cricket board has taken a precautionary step by adding Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan to their squad as backup bowlers. This decision came after star pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah sustained minor injuries during a match against India.
Haris Rauf was ruled out of the game against India due to discomfort in his oblique muscle, as revealed by Pakistan’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel. A scan showed inflammation, prompting the team to take a cautious approach to protect his fitness for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.