Kamal Ghorui
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar unleashed a furious on-air rant after Pakistan’s heartbreaking defeat to England in the T20 World Cup Super 8s, questioning captain Salman Ali Agha’s leadership and lamenting his team’s fading semi-final hopes.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Even before the match, Akhtar had revealed his emotional investment and rivalry-fuelled hopes on the ‘Game On Hai’ show. “I just hope England play poorly so we can take the two points happily,” he had said. “Our joy will know no bounds if India get knocked out and we make it to the semi-finals.”
But those hopes were shattered in dramatic fashion in Pallekele as England pulled off a tense chase of 166, powered by captain Harry Brook’s stunning 100 off 51 balls — the first century by a captain in T20 World Cup history.Pakistan had England in trouble at 58/4, but Brook’s composure and key partnerships turned the match on its head, sealing England’s semi-final spot and leaving Pakistan’s campaign hanging by a thread.The defeat triggered an emotional meltdown from Akhtar, who openly questioned Salman’s credentials.In a viral reaction, Akhtar suggested Salman was “not captaincy material,” a remarkable U-turn given he had earlier supported the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to appoint him.Pakistan’s situation is now precarious. Following the loss and an earlier washout against New Zealand, their semi-final fate is no longer in their own hands. They must beat Sri Lanka and hope other results go their way.Two wins for New Zealand would eliminate Pakistan outright, while other combinations could bring net run rate into play.
