Former India international Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday shut down a former Pakistan cricketer, who alleged that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli stepped aside from the 2018 Asian Cup fearing that he might have to face Pakistan thrice in the tournament, including in the final.
Kohli’s absence from the inter-nation tournament has been a hot topic of discussion for the last one week, with many mentioning that the Indian skipper’s absence will the most of the sheen off from the tournament, given he is world’s top-ranked batsman and is considered to be the most marketable player.
The broadcaster also wrote to the Asian Cricket Council, questioning BCCI’s decision to rest Kohli from the major tournament. It claimed that such a move could lead to a heavy financial loss for the company. But BCCI in a stern reply mentioned that no third party could interfere or question the selection committee’s squad selection.
Also Read: Virat Kohli’s omission: Broadcaster can’t interfere in team selections, says BCCI
Meanwhile, former Pakistan bowler Tanvir Ahmed has come up with new accusations. He claimed that as per his views, as quoted by Times Now, Kohli “bhaag gaya hain” from the2018 Asia Cup after realising that he would have to face Pakistan thrice in the tournament. Ahmed was speaking at a cricket chat show on ABP news that also featured Gautam Gambhir and World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
“Meri nazar mein Virat Kohli bhaag gaye hain. England ki wopoori series khele. England ki Test series mein unko back ka problem hua, uske baad bhi wo matches khele. Jab ek player apnemulk ke liye England ki series khel sakta hai, toh jab usko pata hai Asia Cup jitna bada event aa raha hai, toh jab wo England series survive kar sakta hai toh Asia Cup bhi survive kar sakta hai. Mere mulk ke matches Pakistan ke khilaaf hone hain, ek baar nahi teen baar, toh aise bhaag jaana…” said Ahmed reports Times Now.
(According to my views, Virat Kohli has run away. He played the entire Test series in England despite suffering a back injury during the limited-overs series in England. When a player can battle a back spasm to play a series against England for his country he should also do the same in big tournaments like Asia Cup. I feel he knew that India might have to play with Pakistan on three occasions including the final, which is why he ran away.)
Gambhir was, however, taking none of it and charged at the Pakistani cricketers saying, “Virat Kohli has 35-36 centuries to his name. He (Tanvir) doesn’t even have 35 international matches to his name.” The 39-year-old Kuwait born fast bowler represented Pakistan in five Test matches and two ODIs.
Tanvir further claimed that although he played in only five Test for Pakistan, it was equivalent to players, who have appeared in 50 or more Test matches.
India beat Pakistan by eight wickets and with 126 balls remaining on Wednesday in their second match at the Asia Cup. It was Pakistan’s heaviest defeat to India in terms of balls remaining in an ODI match.