Pakistan were just one step away from their second 20-20 World Cup title in November 2022. Defending 137 in a final against England at MCG, Pakistan gave a tough fight to England and were on the way to taking the game away from the Three Lions. In the 16th over of England’s innings, the Pakistani pacer struggled with a knee problem and was forced to leave the field between the over.
Iftikhar bowled the rest of the over and went on to give 13 runs in five balls. England went on to win the match and lift the title for the second time, powered by Ben Stokes, who played a match-winning knock of 52 off 49 as England chased 138 losing 5 wickets with an over remaining.
Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar feels Afridi lacked willpower in the 20-20 World Cup final and stated that he would have sacrificed his knee or even his life for Pakistan to win the World Cup. In an interaction with Pakistan’s Suno TV, Akhtar said that Afridi wouldn’t have got a better opportunity to become the superstar of the country.
‘This moment would never come again’ – Shoaib Akhtar
“Ye tha vo moment jahan par aap superstar ban sakte the. Agar main hota, to main Pakistan ke liye mar jaata. Mai tod deta ghutna, ghutna jud jayega baad mein. Ye lamha vapas nahi aata. (This was the moment when you could have become a superstar. Had I been in his place, I would have sacrificed my life for Pakistan’s sake. I wouldn’t care if my knee broke, it would have healed again. But, this moment would have never come back again),” said Akhtar.
Pakistan were on the verge of getting eliminated from the race to the semi-finals of the 20-20 World Cup, after losing against India and getting upset against Zimbabwe. But the win against South Africa, Netherlands, and Bangladesh put hope for the Shaheens. And the Netherlands came as a saviour for them by defeating South Africa in their last league match. Pakistan then defeated New Zealand in the semis to book their spot in the finals.
Here is how Twitter reacted
Shoaib Akhtar's statement about Shaheen Afridi. He believes Shaheen should have bowled the two overs against England in the T20 World Cup final through pain to become Pakistan's biggest superstar.
Do you agree with him? pic.twitter.com/wJNaTEkRdG
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 20, 2023
2011 WC semifinal miss karna bhai bhool nahi paa raha.
— Bikram Pratap Singh (@bikram123) February 20, 2023
Shoaib Akhtar would've bowled and picked a hat-trick by bowling from a wheelchair. He would've become a Marvel superhero.
— Akshay kumar (@akshaykumark95) February 21, 2023
Shoaib Akhtar's last over in a World Cup game for Pakistan: 4 6 6 wd 0 4 wd 6
— Amit Dubey (@AmitHellboyz143) February 21, 2023
All the Pakistani Ex-cricketers are self obsessed. Shoaib Akhtar is No.1 among them.
— Imran Khan (@ikhan_ind) February 21, 2023
And suppose Shaheen got struck with boundaries on those 12 balls. Shoaib Akhtar would have been the first to say that compelling him to play was a blunder and that his health is much more vital than a given match. What a man! https://t.co/o0upUxoMiD
— momina (@sabarrkaro) February 20, 2023
Shoaib Akhtar ruined his career by doing that. There's no need for Shaheen to do that
— NabQ (@NabQureshi) February 20, 2023
Shoaib Akhtar ?
— __Sehar_x?? (@_Zohiii) February 20, 2023
Shoaib Akhtar: "I would've died but still bowled those 12 deliveries left in the T20 WC Final" https://t.co/ncH16rLysK
— Zabih Ullah (@ZabihUllah_355) February 20, 2023
