‘Why is there a need to build up so much pressure’- Shoaib Akhtar questions Indian media ahead of high-voltage clash in 2023 Asia Cup
Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, recently got candid with RevSportz and talked about the various pressures and outside noise which builds intensity over the Indian cricket team. Particularly while discussing the high intensity and thriller encounters between India and Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar said the Indian cricket team faces extensive pressures from their own media.
The political tensions between India and Pakistan are not hidden from anyone, and it does interfere a lot with the Sports. Both the teams, the boards and multiple organizations generate high revenues from the high-profile matches between the two countries, which builds a lot of pressure considering the losses faced in terms of sponsorships, if the team loses.
India doesn’t lose because of lack of talent- Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar also mentioned that Indian media depicts Pakistan as the underdogs and how the Indian cricket team will crush them in every encounter, which builds an unnecessary pressure over the Indian team, while Pakistan is free of them. Pakistan recently defeated the Indian team in the super 4 stage of Asia Cup, 2022 and the T20 World Cup 2021 group stage.
“Most of the times India does not lose because they lack talent, they lose because of the kind of pressure they get from their own media. And I always say this to Indian media to give the team some respect and cut them some slack. Why is there a need to build up so much pressure, I understand this because we’re insiders but ultimately this is the wrong thing to do,” said Shoaib Akhtar.
“The last year I was in Dubai, I was doing a show for the Indian local channels, they painted everything blue, they bought the stadium. Also, they were talking about one thing – ‘team India will crush Pakistan’. Who builds this much pressure? When you make us the underdog, we (Pakistan) got nothing to lose because there is no pressure at all. So, what we’ll do is we’ll go out there and win,” added Shoaib Akhtar.
