Akhtar criticised for mocking Pak cricket

Karachi, March 3

Shoaib Akhtar’s remarks mocking the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket on a popular Indian comedy show have evoked angry reactions from ex-players and officials here. Akhtar appeared with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on the ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ in India and some of his stinging remarks about the state of national cricket and his making fun off a former PCB head have not been well received in Pakistan.

“I don’t know why he was so critical about Pakistan cricket on an Indian channel because I know that he is a patriotic Pakistani when he played for the national team,” former Test pacer Sarfraz Nawaz said. “It is unfortunate that our former players behave like this while in a foreign country. What has Akhtar achieved by demeaning our cricket system and officials like this? Was it his way of trying to become popular in India,” said an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“The way he made fun of former Chairman and Test player, Ijaz Butt, is disappointing. He has served Pakistan cricket for long. We don’t expect such behavior from him,” he said.

Pakistan’s top cricketers are presently in demand by Indian television channels for the World Cup and are appearing either as commentators, pundits or on special cricket shows. — PTI