Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma on his struggle to face Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi. Akhtar said that the Indian captain doesn't appear to be the same and called him his body double. In India's season opener in the ongoing Asia Cup, Pakistan's star left-arm pacer produced a memorable spell and that took four big wickets. India's top batters, including the likes of the captain himself, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya fell prey to Afridi's tactics.
The former Pakistan pacer said that Sharma has a mental block against Afridi, which is due to the pressure of the India-Pakistan match. In a virtual press conference organised by Star Sports, the 48-year-old claimed that Sharma got dismissed as he changed his stance.
ABP news quoted Akhtar telling Star Sports, "Yeh Rohit Sharma woh Rohit Sharma hai hi nahi. Yeh uska stunt double hai. Shaheen uske dimaag mein baith gaya hai.. I have never seen him change his stance, but what was happening there?"
The cricketer-turned-commentator added, "Stance change kara, beat hua, bowled hua which loosely translates to he changed his stance and got bowled. Shaheen is subconsciously in his mind. This is what pressure of India vs Pakistan match does to players."
In the Asia Cup 2023, India and Pakistan will once again lock horns in the Super Four stage on September 10, Sunday. If both the teams manage to make it to the final of the ACC event, cricket fans will get to witness another mouth-watering clash between the arch-rivals on September 17, Sunday.
