India’s celebrated fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, recently voiced his concern for the current Pakistan cricket team, acknowledging the immense pressure they face from passionate fans. He pointed out that, unlike previous generations, the present squad seems to lack the world-class quality once synonymous with Pakistani cricket.
Ishant Sharma said that he feels bad for the current crop of Pakistan players and them having to face India (Images via Getty Images)
During an appearance on the Raj Shamani podcast, Ishant reminisced about the golden era of Pakistani cricket. “The pressure during an India vs. Pakistan match was always sky-high, but that was especially true when they boasted legends like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Shahid Afridi. Those were truly great players,” he remarked.
Sharma didn’t hold back when comparing the two cricketing nations, asserting that India’s deep talent pool, extensive exposure, and robust infrastructure provide them with a significant competitive edge. “The sheer talent, the opportunities, and the cricketing setup we have in India are simply unmatched; they’re not even close,” he stated emphatically.
He further elaborated on the psychological toll such high-stakes matches take on Pakistani players. “Pakistan already shoulders a huge amount of pressure; how can they possibly handle more from us? If you observe the games, their fans in the stands are constantly on their backs, relentlessly shouting. Honestly, sometimes I genuinely feel bad for them,” Ishant shared.
These insightful comments come at a crucial juncture for Pakistan, who just barely secured a victory against Sri Lanka to keep their Asia Cup 2025 hopes alive. Salman Agha’s team has already endured two consecutive defeats against India in the tournament. Their initial group stage encounter saw Pakistan score a modest 127/9, a total India comfortably chased down. In the Super Fours stage, despite a promising start with the bat, their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by the stellar performances of Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan remains a contender for the final. Their recent win over Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, where they successfully chased 134 runs with two overs to spare, proved their resilience. Their next critical match against Bangladesh on September 25 in Dubai will be the decider for their tournament fate.
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