Shoaib Akhtar Faces Backlash Over Tweet Ahead Of India-Pakistan World Cup Clash

Former Pakistani pace legend Shoaib Akhtar, known for his candid opinions, recently sparked controversy with a now-deleted tweet related to the ODI World Cup match between India and Pakistan, which drew the ire of Indian fans.

Akhtar shared a photo from his playing days and captioned it with the message: "Tomorrow, history will repeat itself." However, Indian fans quickly responded, reminding Akhtar of India's impeccable record against Pakistan in ODI World Cups, with seven victories in as many matches.

In response, Shoaib Akhtar posted a picture of himself dismissing Sachin Tendulkar during a famous Kolkata Test in 1999, accompanied by the caption, "Kal agar asa kuch kerna hai, toh #ThandRakh" (If you plan to do something like this tomorrow, stay cool).

Twitterati responded with various tweets on Akhtar's second post as well with pictures of matches where Pakistan lost cricket matches to India saying, "History will repeat itself". A picture of Shoaib Akhtar sitting on the cricket field, looking distressed has also been shared.

The upcoming World Cup match between India and Pakistan has garnered significant attention due to its socio-political context, transcending beyond the boundaries of the 22-yard pitch. India is considered a formidable side boasting a batting lineup filled with exceptional talents. However, the outcome of the match may hinge on left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi's opening spell, as the neighboring teams may be equal in intent but differ in terms of firepower.