Have some shame: Aakash Chopra hits out at former Pakistan cricketers

Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has criticised former Pakistan cricketers for suggesting that India lost deliberately to England during the 2019 World Cup, in order to kill the Men in Green’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the mega event.

Last week, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq had made the aforementioned claim while reacting to England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes’ book titled ‘On Fire’, where he questioned the tactics of the Indian team in match against England.

“There is no doubt that India lost on purpose. I had told this at that time as well. In fact, everyone else opined the same. For a person [Dhoni] who can hit fours and sixes at will, he was blocking everything...Hence, one tends to know,” said Razzaq.

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While speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra was livid with the recent statements accusing India of throwing away the match.

“I am wearing a T-shirt which says sharam (shame) not found. Think a little and have some shame. Waqar Younis, despite being the brand ambassador for the ICC, gave a statement during the World Cup that India threw the match away on purpose. I mean seriously,” said Chopra “It is understandable if the partnership between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma didn’t make sense to Stokes or if he was confused by Dhoni’s approach towards the end. But he never said that India deliberately lost the match.”

“Former Pakistani cricketers are openly saying that India lost deliberately and ICC should fine them. How can you think like that? It was more important for India to top the group at that time. India only lost one game in the group stages and that happened to be that game against England,” he added.

It must be noted that if India had defeated England, it would have increased Pakistan’s chances of going into the event’s knockout stage.