Popular drama and film hero Adnan Siddiqui has revealed that Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav had told fans in Dubai to tell Pakistan batters to show bravery and heart to score runs against him.
Siddiqui, who acted in Bollywood flick 'Mom' with Sridevi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in 2017, was in the Dubai International Stadium to watch the Pakistan-India clash in the Champions Trophy last Sunday.
We were close to the boundary and when Kuldeep came to that side after bowling. Some fans requested him to bowl slow so that Pakistan batters could score runs freely.
Kuldeep replied that if the Pakistan batter wants to score runs against him, they should show a big heart and play with intent without which they cannot score.
Kuldeep took 3-40 in nine accurate overs -- claiming wickets of Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah as Pakistan managed a below-par 241 all out in 49.4 overs.
They were timid and scared and their body language was very down
Siddiqui, who travels around the world to watch Pakistan matches, said there is no comparison between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli.
Babar has never performed in pressure matches, he has only one fifty against India in ODIs while Kohli always does well against Pakistan in crunch games, and in Dubai, he stood out. If you do not help the team in the time of need then it is of no use..
In the chase, Kohli played a masterly knock of 100 not out -- his 51st ODI century and 28th in the chase -- to help India reach the target in 42.3 overs. Siddiqui feared a colossal downfall of Pakistan cricket if the problems were not addressed quickly.
I have seen the prime of Pakistan hockey, seen champions in squash, and have seen the 1992 World Cup triumph but this phase in cricket disappoints me to the hilt. If we do not address problems then we will slide downward to a great extent and kids and youth are now diverting from watching cricket. I used to watch cricket at all times, morning or late night but now my son does not like not watching cricket after continuous fall (in the team's standard). I fear for the next generation.
Siddiqui praised India's setup.
"Look at India, they are dominating in international cricket. They were runners-up in the ODI World Cup and won the T20 World Cup and are playing at the next level and this has been achieved through a proper system and administration," he said.
