The highly anticipated India-Pakistan Asia Cup encounter in Dubai was already fraught with tension, marked by on-field confrontations and an ongoing ‘no-handshake’ controversy. However, events unfolding on Pakistani television during the match left cricket fans worldwide utterly stunned.
A video clip from a talk show has gone viral, featuring a presenter posing a disturbing question: ‘Sir, if our boys try to kill them (the Indian team) from here, can we win?’ To this, a panelist responded with a laugh, ‘In my opinion, either they should do this, or some boys should just start firing here, and end the match, because it’s confirmed we will lose.’ This casual suggestion of employing violence to disrupt the game has been universally condemned online as utterly disgraceful and shameful. The image shows Pakistan’s Haris Rauf celebrating with teammates.
The program also included former Pakistan cricketers Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal as expert commentators. This footage has brought further embarrassment to Pakistan cricket, especially at a time when the national team is struggling on the field.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass, scoring a brutal yet elegant 74 runs off just 39 balls. He set a commanding tone alongside his childhood friend Shubman Gill, forming a formidable 105-run opening partnership. India comfortably chased down a target of 172, securing a six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare. The match itself wasn’t without its intense moments, as Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf attempted to provoke Indian batters, prompting Gautam Gambhir and the match umpires to intervene and de-escalate the situation.
Regrettably, instead of focusing on the sport and its nuances, Pakistan finds itself embroiled in controversy once more. From Haris Rauf’s provocative ‘fighter jet’ celebration to the appalling television discussion advocating for armed violence to stop matches, many are left questioning whether the spirit of sportsmanship has been completely lost.