Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at South African cricketer AB de Villiers for offering to come out of his retirement and play for South Africa in World Cup 2019.
Akhtar uploaded a video on his YouTube channel, in which he expressed his disappointment with De Villiers’ decision on choosing Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Indian Premier League (IPL) matches over the World Cup. He also questioned the timing of De Villiers’ recent statement and termed it ‘a tactic to grab eyeballs’.
‘He Looked At His Finance’
The former Pakistani seamer addressed De Villers’ decision of early retirement and not choosing to play for the World Cup at first.
“Firstly, people must not forget that there was pressure on AB de Villiers to leave IPL and PSL contracts and make himself available for the World Cup. However, he chose the IPL and PSL, announced an early retirement and recused himself from the World Cup.’’Shoaib Akhtar, Former Pakistani Cricketer
“So basically everything started with finance. I think when he took this decision, he did it looking at his finances and economics.”Shoaib Akhtar, Former Pakistani Cricketer
‘Timing of His Revelation Raises Serious Question’
Akhtar went on to question the timing of De Villers’ request to play for the World Cup and connects it to South Africa’s poor performance in the tournament. He said De Villers should have prioritised his country over anything else.
“South Africa was in poor form even when he had announced his retirement a year before the World Cup. But I think he should have remembered (at that point) that his country needs him. The money will come today or tomorrow but you heed the call of making money and ignore the World Cup.”Shoaib Akhtar, Former Pakistani Cricketer
“I don’t mind people making money but do it in the right way. If you indeed have to make money then pick and choose correctly but keep your country as the priority,” Shoaib Akhtar said in the video.
‘The Management Was Correct in Their Stand’
He further expressed his agreement with ICC’s decision to not allow Ab de Villiers to play the World Cup tournament after his appeal.
“Now to clear your name you made a last-ditch offer to come out of international retirement for this summer’s World Cup. But I think the management was correct in their stand. You wanted to loot the whole mela and become breaking news by coming out into the team but that is not right.”Shoaib Akhtar, Former Pakistani Cricketer
‘Be a Man And Stick To Your Decision’
Akhtar cited an instance from his life when he displayed his loyalty for Pakistan and did not play for ICL. He said ABD has let the people of South Africa down and now that he has chosen not to play the World Cup, he should stick to his decision
“Forget about your country. Now your country is down and out because of you. Had you been there in the middle-order for South Africa then maybe they would not have performed so badly in the World Cup and who knows they could have also scripted a turnaround.”Shoaib Akhtar, Former Pakistani Cricketer
“Now, this statement of wanting to play for South Africa a month before the World Cup is just a gimmick and it is just about clearing his name. He made a bad move by retiring early and secondly when you retired then stick to your decision now.”Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistani cricketer.
“It’s very sad that you have chosen money over your country,” Shoaib Akhtar concluded.
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