'I want to see India-Pakistan final' - Shoaib Akhtar changes opinion days after writing arch rivals off in T20 WC 2022

The last day of the T20 World Cup 2022 Super-12 stage produced a number of outcomes that altered the possible combinations and permutations for the entire competition. Pakistan might have benefited the most, since they are now among the final four, as they were facing first-round exit woes just a week ago following consecutive losses to India and Zimbabwe.

The Men in Green had earlier received criticism from Akhtar, who went on to say that Pakistan would be eliminated in the first round. In addition, he stated that after losing the semi-final, India would pack bags just like their neighbours. After making such bold remarks for the two sides, Akhtar took a U-turn from his stance and now wants an India-Pakistan final on Sunday, November 13 at the MCG.

“They have proved me wrong. Pakistan wasn’t eliminated from the first round itself. Thanks to Netherlands. Badi meharbani, apka bahut shukriya. (We are grateful to you). South Africans, you have lived it up. I am not going to say this word, but you have lived it up. And you have proved it that you had the tournament on the platter, and you let it go. Hume apse dubara milna hai, ab depend karta hai India kaise khelna chahta hai (we want to meet you again in the final, now it depends how India plays),” he said on his YouTube channel.

Akhtar had earlier said that Pakistan would return back home after the Super-12 stage, and India would take an exit a week after them by losing their semi-final fixture. He also said that India is not that big of a team capable of winning the T20 World Cup. But now, Akhtar has made a totally contradictory statement, saying he wishes to see an India-Pakistan final.

“Ab dekhte hai Pakistan kya karta hai, ye na ho ki India wapas aa rahi hai ek flight me, dusri flight me Pakistan bhi wapas na aa rahi ho…ye na ho!” (Let’s see, how Pakistan fares. It shouldn’t be that India comes back after losing the semi-final against England with Pakistan also returning in the next flight.) I want to see India-Pakistan final aur isme sabse zyada mazza pata hai kisko ayega? ICC and the broadcasters (I want to see an India-Pakistan final, and it will be the broadcasters and ICC who will be making the most of it.),” he added.