Shoaib Akhtar says Pakistan supported India for first time since partition, yet Kohli & Co. disappointed them

Team India, that was on a high before they met hosts England at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham. They couldn’t get going in their chase of 338 runs despite a century from Rohit Sharma and a half-century from skipper Virat Kohli. However, instead of the Indians being disappointed at the loss, it seems Pakistan and its supporters were more hurt.

Pakistan and Bangladesh had lots of hopes tied on India beating England, given that Pakistan had defeated the home side and if the hosts had lost the contest to the Men in Blue, then the Men in Green would just have to win their final encounter against the Tigers. And now, they not only have to beat Bangladesh but hope that Black Caps emerge victors as well against the English side.

Shoaib Akhtar feels India betrayed their neighbours by losing the match

Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had mentioned before the India-England game that this would be the first time ever that their supporters will pray for an India win. However, in his match review in his official YouTube channel, Akhtar was quoted as saying, “It feels like the prayers couldn’t reach India as they lost the match.”

Even former captain Waqar Younis hinted that India may not have played the game in true sportsman given that MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav showed no intent to score the 100 plus runs in the last 10 overs.

“It was for the first time since Partition that we were supporting India. I am sure India must have tried their best but their best could not help Pakistan,” he further mentioned.

This statement came in view of how the England batsmen annihilated the Indian spinners using that 59-meter boundary on one side, with Kuldeep Yadav going for 72 runs and Yuzvendra Chahal registering the worst bowling figures by an Indian in World Cup- 0/88.

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Earlier, England had batted first after winning the toss and put up a huge 337/7 on the board. Jonny Bairstow hit an amazing 111, while a returning Jason Roy made 66 and the duo put on 160 runs in 22 overs. After that, Ben Stokes hit another half century as Indian bowlers had no answers to the counter-attacking batting, despite Mohammed Shami picking 5/69.

India’s chances of qualifying for the semis now depend on them winning at least one of its remaining games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.