Sports

Imran Khan in Kolkata to watch Pakistan, India T20 clash

Cricketer-turned-politician meets greenshirts at Taj Hotel, urges them to be 'fearless'

Nabeel Hashmi March 19, 2016

PHOTO: TWITTER

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan arrived in Kolkata on Saturday to watch the high-voltage Pakistan-India World T20 clash.

https://twitter.com/HashmeNabeel/status/711142390166372352

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman met the greenshirts at Taj Hotel in Kolkata and urged the team to be "fearless."

Abdul Basit granted visa for Pakistan, India T20 clash

The 1992 World Cup winner spoke to the team for around 30 minutes as everyone listened to his advice carefully. He assured the players that Pakistan has got a real chance to turn the history of not winning against India today in Eden Gardens.

"You all have to relax, don't take any pressure and feel good out in the ground," a team official quoted Imran as saying.

"All of you should step out in the ground with an aim of coming out victorious from this and whatever you think in your mind, happens actually if you work hard for it," he added.

Imran claimed that Indians will be y under pressure as they are the ones who are coming into the tie back of a devastating loss whereas the greenshirts have the got a win under their belt.

The cricketer-turned-politician also urged head coach Waqar Younis to make some bold decisions and send Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi in top order just like Afridi came out to bat at four in the last outing.

"Everyone is really charged up after getting support of Imran just before the team had to leave for Eden Gardens. His final words were boys win it tonight and I'll meet you people again in person to congratulate you all. Let's do it," the official revealed.

The cricketer-turned-politician who had led Pakistan to the World Cup in 1992, departed for India on Friday to attend the World T20 match in Kolkata.

“I will try my best to give them tips in light of my own experience and meet the players before the match,” Imran told reporters at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad before leaving India.

The 63-year old told the media that skipper Shahid Afridi had sought his advice for the match and he will give suggestions and “experience-based tips’’ to win the game.

Cricket chachas to miss out on Pakistan-India T20

Imran will also commentate for Sky Sports.

India and Pakistan will grind to a halt Saturday as hundreds of millions of cricket fans gather to watch the World Twenty20 match between the two nations in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium.

The cricket-mad neighbours, who have gone to war three times since independence, share one of the world’s fiercest sporting rivalries and their rare showdowns on the pitch can bring both to a standstill.

7 facts you need to know ahead of Pakistan-India WorldT20 clash

Tensions have prevented the two sides from playing each other in Tests for more than a decade, and the match is only happening because the T20 is an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament.

COMMENTS (12)

Talking Point | 8 years ago | Reply Pak should first and foremost realise that Amir is just another good bowler and elevating him beyond this threshold to a match winner status is going to build expectations and pressure on him and the team. Amir has not demonstarted anything extraordinary and is perhaps in the same league as Boomrah who creates problems for all quality of batsmen. It was a PR hungry Kohli who wanted to showcase his sportsmanship by picking on Amir and by gifting him a bat. Wonderful masterstroke by Kohli that removes the angst in a bowler's mind and therefore blunts his burning desire to take the wicket!

KK | 8 years ago | Reply "whatever you think in your mind, happens actually if you work hard for it". Is he admitting that he has not worked hard enough for "Naya Pakistan". By the way why is he wearing all black instead of green. That was the bad omen perhaps.

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SH | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Dude you don't ever make sense........another unintelligent comment from you.

VGP | 8 years ago | Reply I dont understand why every article has to mention that India and Pakistan have gone to 3 wars.

Ranjiv Grover | 8 years ago | Reply Hard luck for Pak bros again today. Honestly Pakistani team appears short of quality coaching as it lacks skills in fielding and batting technique than Indians. But really impressed with Afridi for his unabashed admittance of being outwitted today. Amir I am afraid is impressive in short spells as he doesn't get support from other end.

Khalid | 8 years ago | Reply Shahid afridi should change his name to afraidi

Ahmed Imran | 8 years ago | Reply Why are our ex players ready to go to India at the drop of a hat can't see Indian explayers doing so when there is a match in India.

Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply He should take up citizenship of India along with Wasim Akram and waqar youis al the time or whenever they get an opportunity they go to India

Zahid Jamil | 8 years ago | Reply Hypocrite. First he says the Pakistan team shouldn't go to India and then flies in to catch the limelight and then saying he represents the Pakistan team at the end of his speech instead of being gracious and thanking the hosts inappropriately says he hopes the result is the same as when he played at the ground the last time - the complete opposite of any statesman. Shows he can't be a statesman or commander in chief. He remains an immature divider in chief with a tragic ego

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Okay, so IK went Kokatta to see d match. That's fine! But there are other famous celebrities of yesteryear that deserve to be invited. Salams

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply If his very presence can carry the day, then he should call it quits as far as politics is concerned and be our permanent cheerleader if nothing else !

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply This cricketer turned failed politician should be in KP where poor people are not getting any help from his party's useless government.

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