Sports

Former Pakistani cricketers praise India for money: Sehwag

Former Indian opener thinks Shoaib Akhtar is attracted by business that his country has to offer

Sports Desk March 05, 2016

PHOTO: AFP

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag believes Pakistani retired cricketers are attracted by big money and this is the reason they are working in India and praising the players a lot.

The former right-hand batsman specifically targeted former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar during his conversation with stand-up comedian Vikram Sathaye.

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"Shoaib has been praising Indian players a lot these days," exclaimed Sathaye, to which Sehwag reacted: "That is because India main business chahiye (they want business in India). They know India is a huge market for cricket. If they talk good about Indian cricket, they will get business. Sab paise ka chamatkar hai yeh (it’s the power of money)."

Moreover, Sathaye also mentioned former Pakistan right-arm quickie Rana Navedul Hasan.

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"Rana Naved is also talking a lot of good things about our cricket," remarked Sathaye, to which Sehwag said: “He may be taking a cue from Shoaib, hoping that Star Sports or someone will pick him. You see all these former Pakistani cricketers want some business from India.”

Furthermore, Sehwag said that his kids would always tease him if they ever lost to Pakistan.

Cricket All-Stars: Shoaib Akhtar proves Rawalpindi Express never departed

“My kids would tease me a lot if we lost to Pakistan,” recalled Sehwag. “They would be worried about their friends teasing them the next day in school. So, imagine the pressure on me from my kids when I used to bat.”

Virender Sehwag was quoted by Mid-day

COMMENTS (36)

T20 IPL | 8 years ago | Reply Hi it's me, I am also visiting this website regularly, this site is truly nice and the viewers are really sharing pleasant thoughts.

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MHA | 8 years ago | Reply Honestly speaking, I am a Pakistani with no interest in Cricket (Let alone interest in doing business in Cricket in India) and I think Virat Kohli is one of the best players of any teams currently in roster.

Indian | 8 years ago | Reply this comment from Sehwag was uncalled for. I really enjoy Ajay Jadeja commenting for PTV these days. This should be encouraged. Our(both India and Pakistan) cricketers are not very educated or have good intectual levels, so please ignore.

Waqas Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Virendar Sehwag is an illiterate and a simple guy. He would speak his mind without thinking, so don't take him too seriously.

Komal S | 8 years ago | Reply @jojo: Not just Pakistanis, the Australians started it and mastered it. Pakistanis are doing the same. It is just common sense. Same goes with the actors coming from Pakistan.

Irfan_Sydney | 8 years ago | Reply Baat toh such hay magar baat hay ruswaiee kee.

Old Ravian | 8 years ago | Reply The whole world praises India for its money. For instance, there was a line of Indian "Miss Words" in early 90s and 00s , but now for quite some time, none has won this title. Have Indian women stopped being pretty? No. The cosmetic companies have acquired the results.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply @Faizan: Frankly, you are out of touch with reality and getting emotional. Look at the performance of our cricket team. Is it commendable? NO! Too much hype in the press, TV, and adverts, has deprived our team of much needed professionalism and technique. Virendar Sehwag did not say anything, which is not a fact. Salams

Raw is War | 8 years ago | Reply India is playing at the top of its performance. It deserves all the praise.

YAs | 8 years ago | Reply Arghh Indians; they don't like it when we show them hate, but, they don't like it either when we show them respect or love, say it SRK, Ranbir, Virat or Dhoni. We had been watching Hollywood and Bollywood since I was a kid. No one from Hollywood told us, it doesn't belong to you or bla bla.

Farooq | 8 years ago | Reply Sehwag is just telling the harsh truth straight away It is a fact that Shoaib is improving as a commentator and it has to do so by sitting with Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram, etc Before on GEO he used to go crazy with Yousuf and Sikander Bakht. Plus what GEO would pay in rs, Star pays in dollars

ajeet | 8 years ago | Reply Funny that all Pakistani cricketers become chummy with Indians after retiring and in need of some income.

Grafello | 8 years ago | Reply Everyone in the world knows that India responds to buttering and this is what Shoab is doing.@Milind:

Mohammad Faizan Farooq Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Shoaib was an average cricketer at best whose one claim to fame was that he broke the 100 mph barrier. He was shrewd enough like Afridi to stay in the limelight due to scandals and soundbites. Sehwag has called a spade a spade and has hit him similar to Multan 2004.

GTR | 8 years ago | Reply Well isn't whole Indian business approach/mindset is built on the same idea? Here in Australia, if you ride with an Indian taxi driver, 9 of 10 times you hear endless complains about the how rude and snob the Aussies are, yet here they are toiling half a day in cab, day in and day out.

Aisha Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Great Crickter forever

An Indian | 8 years ago | Reply Absolute truth.

RB | 8 years ago | Reply @jojo: Why did it start only after they got Jobs in India, Why not before? Do you think talent needs monetary advantage to be praised?

nasser | 8 years ago | Reply Very true....it's all about money other wise Indian players do not deserve the praise which is heaped upon them. You are right Sehwag ....you or Sachin all of you are overhyped for money. Thanks for speaking out the truth.

rishabh jain | 8 years ago | Reply Sehwag has become a bitter man.

tasleem ulhaq | 8 years ago | Reply one of my friend told me that he thinks cricket starts from virat kohli and he is not a former cricketer .

Milind | 8 years ago | Reply @fahim - You didn't get it... What Sehwag is saying is that you don't speak your mind, when you have business interests in India... How does it matter if you speak your mind, when you don't have any interests here

Usman Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Does this mean that Indian players, don't genuinely deserve the praise they receive.?

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply @fahim: Yeah but you're not a former Pakistan cricketer so no one really cares about you. But you're right though. Kohli and Sharma are awesome.

jojo | 8 years ago | Reply Indian mentality at its best, this is how sick there mind has become, if someone from Pakistan praises there team they even think that of as money making trick instead of a honest observation of a cricket expert, it means others in the world cricket also praise Indian team to make money or this special mindset is only reserved for Pakistani cricket experts who analyse cricket based on team performances..

fahim | 8 years ago | Reply I don't think because Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are two top batsmen in the world. I am saying it with out any business in India

wiserneighbour | 8 years ago | Reply cent per cent true

Jai | 8 years ago | Reply That is such a cheap thing to say. Mr.Sehwag, it seems to me that you're jealous of the commentators who are making big bucks while your own career is grinding to a halt. Don't bet your house on getting a commentator's spot. You're a lousy communicator and the names you mentioned have good communication skills.

wb | 8 years ago | Reply One honest Indian has said the truth like it is meant to be said. In other words, Pakistani cricketer (retired or otherwise) hate Indian cricket. But they're forced to praise lest they loose their income which their failed state cannot give them. Bravo Sehwag for speaking the truth like you did your batting.

Allah Hafiz | 8 years ago | Reply Whats Wrong????........Sehwag saying the truth....This is same shoaib who sees dravid and tendulkar afraid by him and now in india call them greatest....lol.....they all know...what shoaib can earn 1 year in India by saying all nonsense things in Hindi.....he would have earned in his whole life playing for pakistan......Sports is still a growing business in India with cricket being an exception..and moreover....I just saw an awesome Pro Kabbadi League match and when i switched my channel...I found we have an awesome Basket Ball league in India coming up...and its among top 5 leagues in Basket Ball in Asia....Dude thats awesome..ISL is already among top 10 football leagues in world in terms of vieweship and attendance....and ITPL,PHL,PBL etc..etc....lot of entertainment and money...thats awesome dude...infact we paid roger and rafa nadal around 2.5 million dollars each in ITPL....good doing...may the force be with us.....

OSD | 8 years ago | Reply Thats not really surprising Sehwag sb.. The whole world wants to do business with India.. And so they are piling on the praise to inflate India's ego.. Beware, the East India Company is back..

M.S. | 8 years ago | Reply You will get such nonsense from illeterate people when they try to talk like intellectuals.

Feroz | 8 years ago | Reply The same also applies to retired Indian Cricketers, though he may not have said it. Sehwag's personality seems to be like his game -- upfront and in your face.

Faizan | 8 years ago | Reply A silent insult to Pakistan Cricketers!!! Arrogancy

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