India lost to South Africa in a Group 2 match at the T20 World Cup on Sunday. India’s loss to the Proteas now has become tricky for Pakistan, that has won one and lost two of its three games so far.
Former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar commented on India’s game and said on his YouTube channel, "India ne marwa diya humein (India have nearly ended our chances) by losing to South Africa. Not India's fault though, Pakistan played so badly. We left this thing to others. I was wishing and hoping, India would come strong and hard. This goes to show that when you are against a quality bowling attack, the condition of the subcontinent teams come out in the open”.
"If they would have players patiently, maybe they would have done. India have left us disappointed."
He also pointed out that Indian batting had been exposed by South Africa. "India have been exposed in front of South Africa's fast bowling but they are not and about because they'll have easier matches now. Pakistan have to face a difficult opponent in South Africa. It still looks difficult and impossible but I am still backing my tea. Let's see what happens," he said.
India will be playing against Bangladesh on Wednesday while Pakistan next play South Africa on Thursday.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir.