'They Shouldn't Have Met…' - Wasim Akram Unhappy With Kohli-Babar

image-lnqzexwtVirat Kohli shaking hands with Babar Azam. (Getty)

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has lashed out at Babar Azam for openly receiving a signed shirt from Virat Kohli after the ICC World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

In a spectacular display of all-around prowess, Team India secured a resounding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ODI World Cup match held in Ahmedabad. Despite Pakistan's promising start, they faltered and concluded their innings with a below-par total.

In response to Pakistan's modest target, India fearlessly pursued their victory, ultimately reaching it with seven wickets in hand. Skipper Rohit Sharma stole the spotlight with a remarkable 86 runs, which established the foundation for India's triumph.

Following the match, Kohli and Babar convened on the field, where Kohli presented a signed jersey to the Pakistani skipper. This heartfelt gesture from Kohli, one of the world's most respected players, was captured on video and widely shared on social media.

While Indian players were engaged in celebrating their victory, Kohli was observed conversing with Babar. Kohli willingly fulfilled Babar's request and promptly handed over his jersey after autographing it.

Critiquing this public exchange, the ex-Pakistani skipper remarked,"Babar (Azam) should not have met Kohli on the ground. This was not the appropriate moment for a public interaction. Babar should have privately received the shirt from Virat (Kohli)."

Traditionally, players tend to exchange jerseys or acquire signatures from each other within the confines of the dressing room. However, the open exchange between Babar and Kohli before a crowd of 100,000 people will undoubtedly remain a memorable moment for fans from both countries.

The iconic match itself underscored India's long standing dominance over Pakistan in ODI World Cups. It marked the ninth encounter between the two teams in the tournament, with India emerging victorious in all nine matches. Beyond the statistics and records, the match served as a poignant reminder of the fierce rivalry and unbridled passion that characterizes India-Pakistan cricket encounters.

With the dust settling on this match between two Asian Giants, both teams are now set to approach the remainder of the tournament with a reinvigorated sense of purpose.