Srinagar: The ever controversial Shoaib Akhtar has defended his comments against Babar Azam regarding laters lack of communication skills and instead went onto mock former cricketer Kamran Akmal by pointing out his mispronounced common word.
Akhtar first showered praise on Akmal by calling the former cricketer a match-winner. Akhtar’s then took a brutal dig at Kamran by questioning his communication skills.
“Kami is our match winner…he must be listening to this,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
“He has played really well for Pakistan. Mai Sun Raha Tha, Ye Bhi Keh Raha Tha Sakreen…Sakreen Nahi Hota Hai, Screen Hota Hai (I heard him speak, he was saying ‘sakreen’. It’s screen and not sakreen),” Akhtar told Pakistan’s ARY News. Akhtar was called out by netizens for humiliating his former teammate Akmal on-air.
During a previous interview with Suno News, Akhtar claimed that members of the Pakistan national team struggle to communicate well in English.
Akhtar had opined that Babar has failed to become the biggest brand in Pakistan because the all-format captain can’t speak English.
“Abhi Aap Dekh Le, Koi Character Nahi Team Mein. Naa Koi Baat Karne Ka Tarika. (You can see there’s no character in the team, nor do they know how to talk.) How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation. Kitna mushkil hai English seekhna aur baat krna? (How difficult is it to learn and speak English?). Cricket is one job, and handling media is another. If you can’t speak, I am sorry, but you won’t be able to express yourself on TV,” Akhtar had said.
The 37-year-old played 46 Tests, 163 One Day International (ODIs), and 15 T20Is for Pakistan. Akhtar made his international debut against the West Indies at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in 1997. Akhtar also represented Kolkjata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League.