Former Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Amir and Rashid Latif blasted Indian opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 game between India and Pakistan. This match will be played on February 15, 2026, at the RPS Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Both India and Pakistan have won their first two games in the T20 World Cup 2026. India defeated the USA and Namibia, while Pakistan defeated the Netherlands and the USA. Pakistan will likely have an advantage, as they have played all their matches at the same venue in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, appearing on a Pakistan TV show, Mohammad Amir slammed ace India opener Abhishek Sharma and called him a slogger and stated that the chances of his failures are high, as he bats in only one style.
“By whatever little I have seen, if you ask me honestly, I feel he is just a slogger. He has to go hard at every ball. The day he gets going, it’s fine; otherwise, uske failure ke chances zyaada hain (the chances of his failure are high). He scores once in 8 innings. Otherwise, his scores are 10, 15, 0, and 20. I don’t think he is technically sound. He just stands there and wants all balls to be bowled in a particular area. This is my honest opinion. I am also saying the day he gets going, he will score big. He can hurt the other team. But he has a high-risk game. I will consider him a proper batter only when I see that the ball is swinging even slightly and he tackles it well and smashes it with the same velocity,” Amir said on the show ‘Haarna Mana Hai.’
Abhishek Sharma had made life hell for Pakistan bowlers in the Asia Cup T20 tournament in 2025. He scored 31 in the league stage and 74 in the Super Fours as India comfortably won both games.
Adding to Amir’s claims, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif agreed with the former pacer but, at the same time, lauded his success despite the way he plays.
“We haven’t seen him play much first-class cricket, nor in ODIs. Mostly they’re T20Is. His upper portion doesn’t come in front. All he does is give himself room. He’s calling him a slogger because he is ready for every ball to swing. If he tries to defend, that’s where he will find the problem. He is successful because that’s all he has worked in,” said Latif on the same show.
Abhishek Sharma didn’t play in the recent game against Namibia, as he is suffering from a stomach ailment.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav is unsure whether Abhishek will be match-fit on Sunday, but if the video shared by Arshdeep Singh is any indication, the left-handed opener seems a lot better, and the fact that he is traveling with the squad bodes well for his chances.
