Former Pakistani cricketing legend, Shoaib Akhtar, recently voiced his concerns regarding the Indian media’s role in adding excessive pressure to the Indian cricket team, particularly before crucial encounters against Pakistan. Akhtar cited a specific incident from the 2022 Asia Cup, where he believed that the overwhelming media attention had a negative impact on the Indian team.
Akhtar, who acknowledges India’s exceptional talent, expressed his belief that this potential is at times overshadowed by the massive pressure generated by the media. In his request, he urged the Indian media to exercise restraint and avoid burdening the national team with sky-high expectations.
Drawing from his personal observations during his time in Dubai, Akhtar recounted instances where he witnessed the Indian media intensively building up pressure around their team. He emphasized that such tactics can potentially obstruct the players’ performance and confidence. Additionally, Akhtar highlighted a fascinating inconsistency: when Pakistan is professed as the underdog in a match against India, it often eases the pressure on them, allowing them to perform more freely and confidently.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan achieved a memorable victory against India in the 2022 Asia Cup. Moreover, in the current Asia Cup, Pakistan demonstrated their ability with a remarkable start, defeating Nepal by a commanding margin of 238 runs in their opening match.