‘Are ruk jaao abhi aur zillat leni hai’ – Fans react as Shoaib Akhtar fumes after Pakistan and Babar Azam were left out of ODI World Cup 2023 promo

The apex cricket body has unveiled a teaser for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which also stars Shah Rukh Khan from Bollywood. The 2-minute, 13-second promotional clip shows fans from each of the competing nations as well as some well-known athletes. However, Shah Rukh’s appearance in the advertisement makes it seem more epic.

Meanwhile, former Pakistani legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the apex cricket body for including Pakistan and Babar Azam in the promo. Akhtar said that whoever made the promo, has presented himself as a joke. He even said that they need to grow up a bit now.

“Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam’s significant presence, has actually presented himself as a joke. Come on guys, time to grow up a bit,” Akhtar wrote in a tweet.

The tournament is set to start on October 5

As soon as the promo appeared on social media, Pakistani supporters were also not pleased. Shikhar Dhawan, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Muttiah Muralitharan make brief appearances in the tournament teaser along with cricket players from all ten competing countries. Babar, the captain of Pakistan and a well-known personality in modern cricket was absent from the video. 

When it comes to the World Cup, the 2019 champions England and New Zealand will square off in the opening game at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. While the most anticipated match between India and Pakistan will take place on October 15 at the same Ahmedabad ground. However, fans can witness both teams clashing twice in the tournament if both somehow qualify for the semi-finals.

The venues and dates for the impending big event were made public last month along with the schedule. Some stadiums, however, were not selected to host even one ODI World Cup match. Talking about the final match, it will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19. It’d be interesting to see which team will be able to qualify for the finals.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Are ruk jaao abhi aur jillat Leni h

— 19741458161 (@Strike1AndOut) July 22, 2023

Bulayega q chinta kar raha hai bhai

— asefsayed (@asefsayed) July 22, 2023

That's how Babar Azam became no 1 player pic.twitter.com/N5j9uyMlvJ

— Kishan (@kishan_38) July 22, 2023

grow up guys for everything you beg

— kp (@ianarp1002) July 22, 2023

No clip off the 1992 winners either

— Ibby A (@ibby1979) July 22, 2023

Aap ki team world cup me bhi nahi ayegi to bhi kuch farak nahi padega by the way

— Daksh (@Daksh38131866) July 22, 2023

Absolutely correct…. But this also indicates that the world does not take us as a nation….

— Syed Manzar Abbas (@AbbasManzarSyed) July 22, 2023

pic.twitter.com/BNRfr1QOpx

— Ankush (@Imankush43) July 22, 2023

https://twitter.com/proudindian7197/status/1682719098525057024?s=20