Shoaib Akhtar Dismisses Poor Ticket Sales for India-Pakistan Asia Cup

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has strongly refuted claims about poor ticket sales for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Asia Cup encounter, dismissing such reports as “external talks.” The legendary pacer emphasized that emotions are running exceptionally high as the arch-rivals prepare to face each other for the first time since Operation Sindoor.

The political landscape between India and Pakistan deteriorated significantly following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, which claimed 26 tourist lives. The Indian Army’s subsequent Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan, leading to military de-escalation but heightened tensions between the neighboring nations.

Akhtar Confident About Match Attendance

“Emotions are running very high. Now we [Pakistan] are meeting India for the first time post-war. Think about it — it cannot not be houseful,” Akhtar stated during his appearance on PTV Sports. He firmly rejected suggestions that tickets remained unsold, calling such claims misleading information.

Former Indian Cricketer Makes Bold Prediction

Meanwhile, ex-Indian cricketer Atul Wassan made controversial remarks, claiming that even India’s B team could defeat the current Pakistani squad. Wassan drew comparisons to the 1990s when Pakistan was considered a formidable opponent, suggesting the dynamics have completely shifted.

“India’s B team will also beat this Pakistan team because things have changed,” Wassan told Indian Express, adding that he wouldn’t miss senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, comparing it to not missing legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

The upcoming match carries significant emotional weight given the recent geopolitical developments, making it one of the most watched encounters in cricket history.