Pakistan had thrashed India in T20 WC 2021 match by 10 wickets in Dubai.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja’s comments on Team India and its players continued in full swing ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022, starting on October 16 in Australia.
After stating that India has started to respect Pakistan as a strong opposition following their defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai, the PCB chief has now revealed how his advice to Pakistan captain Babar Azam helped him plan Rohit Sharma’s wicket when India and Pakistan clashed in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.
The former Pakistan skipper revealed that he told Babar to ask Shaheen Afridi to bowl an in-swinging yorker at a high pace to Rohit Sharma and the plan worked, as the dangerous opener was caught in front of the middle stump and was dismissed for a golden duck in a group match of the T20 World Cup last year.
Ramiz Raja said on a BBC podcast: “Babar Azam was here with the Chief Selector before leaving for the World Cup, and I asked him what are your plans against India. I can tell you how to get rid of Rohit Sharma right now and Babar was intrigued.”
He added, “I said get Shaheen Afridi bowling at 100mph, get a man at short-leg. Just bowl that inswinging yorker at 100mph and do not give him a single and keep him on strike. You will get him out.”
Notably, Pakistan won that match by 10 wickets against India in Dubai to end their winless streak in the ICC World Cup events against their arch-rivals.
India and Pakistan will be up against each other in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 on October 23 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
(Indian Express inputs)