Pakistan bowling not like India, England won’t get walkover: Shoaib Akhtar fires potshot ahead of T20 WC final

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took a fiery jibe at India ahead of the ENG vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2022 final in Melbourne. Akhtar was commenting on a question about the thought process of the England team after powering into the summit clash on the back of a remarkably easy win against India. 

The former cricketer said that England are in a comprehensive position but know that Pakistan bowling attack is not like India’s and the Jos Buttler-led side know that the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne won’t be a walkover. 

“England ek comprehensive position mein hai. England ka confidence sky-rocketing hoga. England ko pata hai ki yahaan pe Pakistan bowling, Indian bowling nahi hai. Yahaan pe kuchh na kuchh kar ke jeetna padega. Itni aasaani se walkover nai hona. (England are in a comprehensive position. Their confidence would be sky-rocketing. England know that Pakistan’s bowling is not like India’s bowling. They will have to do something different as this would be an easy walkover.),” Akhtar said in a match analysis video on his YouTube channel ahead of the T20 World Cup final.

Akhtar had earlier slammed India’s performance in his evaluation of the England semi-final. He called it a “very embarrassing loss”, saying that India “deserved to lose and didn’t deserve to qualify for the finals.

“Their bowling was exposed very badly. These conditions are helpful for fast bowling and India don’t have an express pacer,” Akhtar had said. He had also questioned the team selection over India not playing spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. He went on to say that the Men in Blue lacked aggression. 

“It was a really bad day for India as their heads went down after they lost the toss. When England batted their first five overs, the Indians had their arms up in the air. At least, India should have tried to fight, maybe the bowlers could’ve bowled round the wicket and delivered a few bouncers. There was no aggression from the Indian side,” Akhtar was quoted to have said.

Pakistan is playing England in the T20 World Cup final game on Sunday, November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

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