Playing cricket in empty stadium like marriage without bride: Akhtar
Published By : Prameya News Bureau | May 18, 2020 IST
Share
Lahore, May 18 (IANS) Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes playing cricket before empty stands would be without much excitement and something difficult to market. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many sports have resumed behind closed doors and cricket is also supposed to be played like that in the near future so as to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. "Playing cricket in the empty stadiums may be viable and durable for cricket boards. But I do not think we can market this. Playing cricket in an empty stadium is like marriage without a bride. We need crowds to play games. I hope the corona situation will be normalized within a year," Akhtar told Helo Live session. Earlier, India skipper Virat Kohli had also said that it would be difficult to re-create the magic and the excitement of playing in a packed stadium while playing behind closed doors. During the session, Akhtar also revealed that he wanted batting legend Sachin Tendulkar to get a hundred during their famous 2003 World Cup clash against India. The Master Blaster got out on 98 with Akhtar accounting for his scalp. However, India won the match played in Centurion by six wickets. "I was very sad because Sachin got out for 98. It was special innings, he should have touched the century mark," Akhtar said. "I wanted him to get a century. For that bouncer, I would have loved to see a sixer, as earlier he hit." The Rawalpindi Express was taken to the cleaners in that game as he leaked 72 runs in his 10 overs. But the gun-quick saw the back of Tendulkar who got to his 98 in just 75 deliveries, his innings laced with 12 fours and a six. (IANS)
News7 Is Now On WhatsApp Join And Get Latest News Updates Delivered To You Via WhatsApp
You Might Also Like
More From Related News
IPL 2024: Nortje, Mukesh come in as DC opt to bowl first vs RR
NITA Football Academy emerges victorious in IWL-2 encounter
IPL 2024: Tim David hails Tilak Varma's knock vs SRH
Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula in ICC Elite Panel
IPL 2024: Parents' presence pumped up Abhishek
After nine years, Gillespie gives up head coach job
IPL 2024: Is MI captain Hardik Pandya under added pressure?
IPL 2024: Opening Day TV viewership was 16.8 cr
Dilip Tirkey congratulates Sreejesh for FIH panel honour
IPL 2024: Ganguly justifies DC opening with Warner-Marsh
IPL 2024: Cummins thanks Hyderabad crowd after win
IPL 2024: MI must utilise Bumrah better, say Irfan & Smith
Odisha FC: New queens of Indian women’s football
IPL 2024: DC need to bat well, admits Ganguly
IPL 2024: Rohit joins Dhoni, Virat; plays 200th match for a franchise