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The former international cricketer Kamran Akmal has shared his disappointment on seeing Irfan Pathan dance with Rashid Khan after Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by eight wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The 41-year-old talked about how this kind of happiness wasn’t seen when India got the better of Pakistan in Australia.
After winning the toss and batting first on a good pitch in Chennai, Pakistan put a competitive total of 282/7 on the board in their allotted 50 overs. The captain, Babar Azam, top scored for the Men in Green with 74 runs off 92 balls, while Abdullah Shafique got a fifty at the top of the order, apart from the quick-fire 40s from Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed.
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In the run chase, Afghanistan was in cruise control from start to finish, with their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran putting up a 130-run opening stand in just 22 overs while bringing up their respective fifties. Rahmat Shah (77) and the captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (48) stayed unbeaten till the end of the innings and took their side over the line.
Upon achieving their first victory against Pakistan in ODIs, the players of Afghanistan were in celebratory mode and did a lap of honour at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Their talisman Rashid Khan was joined in for a dance by Irfan Pathan, who was nearby, fulfilling his duties for Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the ODI World Cup 2023, on their post-match show.
However, Kamran Akmal wasn’t having none of what he did at the venue and said, as per India.com, “I was surprised at Irfan Pathan dance. I remember India beating Pakistan in Australia; even then this kind of happiness wasn’t seen. But there seems to be greater joy in Afghanistan defeating Pakistan. It was sad to see – not just for me but for nation. The broadcasters should think about that this – neutral commentators shouldn’t do this.”
