In the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, Pakistan had its worst-ever season. The team lost four consecutive games as South Africa beat them in a thrilling encounter by one wicket at MA Chidambaram Stadium. However, the game was once looking in their favour when concussion substitute Aiden Markram dismissed set batter Aiden Markram in slog overs.
Mir, who replaced Shadab Khan as a concussion substitute, took two wickets and was having a good game. However, after Pakistan’s loss, former Pakistani pacers Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir accused Shadab Khan of running away from a high-pressure game as his injury didn’t look serious. While speaking with ARY News, Gul and Tanvir slammed Shadab and said that he was faking his injury.
Here is the full video of Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir:
Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul accuse Shadab Khan of 'running away' and that his injury didn't look serious pic.twitter.com/JIYC1HLl9c
— Ghumman (@emclub77) October 27, 2023
Starting with Tanvir, the presenter asked about Shadab and his injury. In response, he said, “I think Shadab should have fought. I don’t know the extent of his injury. If I was there, I would have fought.” Meanwhile, Umar responded, “I am very sad. I think our World Cup journey is done. Our hopes have ended. I don’t know the seriousness of the injury. But questions will be asked when you make a concussion an excuse to run away from the team, and then when you return, you start talking to people.”
“It means that you made an excuse”, says Umar Gul
Further explaining his point, Gul said that it was an important match, and as a senior player, you should have been there on the pitch. “Then, when you realise that the match can go in our favour and you come out in the dugout again to cheer, it means that you made an excuse. So people will ask questions. It was an important game, and as a senior, you had to be there on the pitch”, says Gul.
“There are many examples when players have continued to play in spite of broken hands as they chose to fight for the sake of the team. I don’t agree with Shadab. I don’t think he had a serious injury. For most of the innings, he was inside the dressing room. When one or two wickets were left, you came out on camera to cheer and clap for the team. It just means that you are playing with the emotions of 24 crore Pakistani people. It is not funny. It is not your team, but the team of 24 crore Pakistani people”, he added.
It’s worth noting that in the ongoing tournament, Pakistan has played six matches and won only two against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. After that, the team failed to perform up to par as they lost against India, Australia, South Africa, and shockingly, Afghanistan. These losses have derailed their hopes for the semifinals, as now they don’t have their fate in their own hands.
