Pakistan supported India for first time since Partition: Shoaib Akhtar
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Virat Kohli too expressed his thoughts on the support Team India is getting from Pakistan during the England clash
Former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar said that for the first time since Indo-Pak Partition, his country supported India in Sunday's World Cup group match against England at Edgbaston.
Eoin Morgan-led England reignited their World Cup campaign after defeating India 31 runs and they toppled Pakistan to regain their fourth position in the points table.
The result of the match had the potential of changing other teams' fortune in the World Cup as Bangladesh and Pakistan are also bidding to enter the semi-finals.
"India had five wickets in hands, so I thought they will take chances but they did not. I think India played very slow there. Anyways, it was our desire as Pakistanis and we were supporting India for the first time since partition, but India were unable to win and whosoever had performed from the Indian side, he would have become our hero as well," Akhtar said in a YouTube video.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli too expressed his thoughts on the support Team India is getting from Pakistan during the England clash.
Kohli said, "To be honest I haven't seen what's been happening outside. But I do believe the Pakistani fans will be supporting us, which is a rare thing (smiles)."
Opting to bat first, England posted a commanding total of 337 which they defended easily to secure a much-needed victory.
Rohit Sharma (102) scored a brilliant century and Kohli scored 66 which was not enough for the Indian side to chase the target.
India's middle order yet again came under immense criticism following their defeat. MS Dhoni was again criticised for his slow-paced inning as he scored 42 runs off 31 deliveries.
Although his strike rate was above hundred, it was not enough to help India chase the mammoth target set by the hosts.
Akhtar also opined that India's middle order is a concern for the team.
"Now India will have to think about their middle order as they are getting exposed again and again. They are unable to score there and it will be a worrying point for India in the coming days," he said.