“They should’ve played me; it was so unfair”: Shoaib Akhtar Recalls The Loss Against India That Still Haunts Him 

The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar recalls the loss of Pakistan against India in the 2011 World-Cup semi-finals as he talks about him being not a part of the squad. 2011 World-Cup is an unforgettable and memorable tournament, especially for India. As the MS Dhoni led Indian team lifted the cup after a massive gap of 28 years. In the semi-final of the game, India faced Pakistan in Mohali where the latter team was defeated by 29 runs and India made it to the finals against Sri Lanka. Shoaib Akhtar was not been able to perform in the World-cup squad as he was adjudged unfit by the Team management of Pakistan. After almost 11 years, the former pacer has stated that the loss of his team still haunts him. 

“They should’ve played me; it was so unfair”: Shoaib Akhtar:-

“Mohali memory haunts me, that 2011 World Cup semi-final. They should have played me; they should have played me. The management did not play me; it was completely unfair. I knew that I had just two matches left and I had this desire that at Wankhede, the Pakistan flag is held high and the team is playing the final. I knew that India was under immense pressure. The entire nation and the media were looking up to India which means the entire pressure was on them and we were the underdogs. So, I believe we shouldn’t have taken the pressure.” 

Akhtar also believes that he would be playing in Mohali, he would have taken the wickets of Sachin and Sehwag. “They told me I was unfit. But I went inside, I bowled eight straight overs during the warm-up. If I played that match, no matter what the consequence would have been. Whether I would’ve broken my leg, I would’ve dismissed Sachin and Sehwag. I knew India would collapse if Sachin and Sehwag were dismissed early.” 

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In addition, Akhtar revealed how he felt after he saw Pakistan lose the semi-final against India. Not to mention, he was hurt and emotional. “I was really hurt. So, to see that match for 5-6 hours and watch Pakistan lose from the dug-out. I’m not the kind of person who cries but I am a kind of person who breaks things. And I did break a few things in the dressing room. Because I was so sad, disappointed and furious and so was my whole nation. I knew that all it mattered was those first 10 overs.”