The 2023 ODI World Cup in India, which will begin on October 5, recently received a promotional film from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Due to the participation of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the video attracted a lot of attention, especially across the sub-continent.
The two minutes and 13 second commercial film featured fan reactions and memorable scenes from previous World Cup games, including MS Dhoni’s infamous six that helped India win the 2011 championship.
A strong lineup of Indian cricketers, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Dinesh Karthik, and Shubman Gill, were also featured in the video. The captain of England’s World Cup-winning team in 2019, Eoin Morgan, as well as former South African star Jonty Rhodes and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, all made guest appearances.
Shoaib Akhtar, a renowned Pakistani fast bowler, took to social media to express his outrage about Babar Azam’s absence from the promotional video. Wahab Riaz and Shaheen Afridi were included in clips from previous World Cups starring the Pakistan cricket squad, but Akhtar was extremely disappointed that Babar and Pakistan’s historic 1992 World Cup victory were not included.
Akhtar expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter, writing, “Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam’s substantial involvement, has actually shown himself as a joke. It’s time for you guys to mature a little.
Whoever believed that the World Cup promotion wouldn’t be complete without Pakistan and Babar Azam’s prominent appearance has actually made himself look foolish.
It’s time for you guys to mature a little.
22 July 2023, Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph)
Incidentally, the opening match of the next 2023 ODI World Cup will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5, featuring the winners of the most recent tournament, England and New Zealand. But, the high-stakes match between India and Pakistan set for the same location on October 15 will command all attention.
