In the cricket world, where high-octane clashes and fierce rivalries often take centre stage, victory and happiness shine even brighter. The thrilling encounter between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on October 23 was one such occasion.
Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by eight wickets, marking their first-ever victory against the Green Team in ODIs.
After the match, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan danced alongsideRashid Khan as the Afghans celebrated the victory by applauding the crowd in the MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chennai.
While cricket lovers worldwide cherished and celebrated this display of camaraderie, it’s essential to acknowledge that not everyone shared the same sentiment.
Kamran Akmal’s displeasure over Irfan-Rashid dance moves
Kamran Akmal, the former Pakistan cricketer, has expressed his disapproval of Irfan Pathan’s and Rashid Khan’s post-match dance. The 41-year-old, known for his outspoken views on various cricketing matters, criticized the duo, considering their dance inappropriate and disrespectful to the game. He argued that cricket should be played with a sense of decorum and that such displays were outside the sport’s tradition of maintaining a certain level of seriousness and sportsmanship.
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Akmal’s scathing remarks
Kamran was disappointed with Irfan and Rashid’s dance moves, and compared it to the joy seen when India defeated Pakistan in Australia. The Lahore-born cricketer noted that the level of celebration seemed greater when Afghanistan defeated Pakistan, which he found saddening. He also called on broadcasters to consider the behaviour of neutral commentators and suggested they should refrain from participating in such celebrations.
“I was surprised at Irfan Pathan’s dance, “I remember India beating Pakistan in Australia; even then, this kind of happiness wasn’t seen. But there seems to be greater joy in Afghanistan defeating Pakistan. It was sad to see – not just for me but for the nation. The broadcasters should think about this = neutral commentators shouldn’t do this,” Kamran Akmal told Ary News.
