Shoaib Akhtar claims India have 'ruined cricket' after T20 World Cup three-peat
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has stirred controversy by claiming India have "ruined cricket entirely" following their 96-run demolition of New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday.
'One rich kid in the neighbourhood'
Speaking on the Tapmad show Game On Hai, Akhtar compared India's dominance to playground bullying. "It's like when there's one rich kid in a neighbourhood who calls all the poor kids and says, 'Come, let's play cricket, but I'll be the winner,'" Akhtar said. "That's exactly what India is doing with us. Out of eight teams, they keep four, and out of those four they call three again and move forward, and then they say, 'See, I've won.' They have ruined cricket entirely."
The comments came hours after India posted 255 for 5 and then bowled New Zealand out for 159 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Sanju Samson top-scored with 89 off 46 balls, while Jasprit Bumrah took 4 for 15 to earn the Player of the Final award.
Praise and contradiction in the same breath
The timing made it strange. Days before the final, Akhtar had praised Gambhir for backing players through difficult patches and credited India's success to their "policy, system, and merit-based selection." He acknowledged India were favourites, though he hoped New Zealand would win "for cricket's sake."
Even in the same segment, Akhtar conceded that India's system deserves respect. Indian fans were quick to point out the contradiction on social media, along with the fact that Pakistan failed to get past the group stage.
Three T20 World Cups and counting
India became the first team to win three T20 World Cups on Sunday. They are also the first to retain the trophy in consecutive tournaments and the first host nation to lift it on home soil. Samson finished as Player of the Tournament with 321 runs at a strike rate of 199.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav kept things simple. "We just wanted to play fearless cricket," he said. "The boys were outstanding from the first game."
Coach Gautam Gambhir dedicated the win to "1.4 billion Indians" and brushed aside personal milestones. "A coach is as good as his team," he said. "Players made me the coach I am."
