Things in India and Pakistan come to a standstill when it is about a game of cricket between the two estranged neighbours, and the Group A match at the T20 World Cup in New York on Sunday is no different.
Besides pride and progress in the tournament at stake, an India vs Pakistan encounter is a lot about fans' emotions that go through the roof. Among crores of them are also celebrities from all walks of life on both sides of the border.
Pakistan singer-actor Ali Zafar is one of them, and he chose to share his sentiments on social media with a video, talking not just about the India vs Pakistan match but also what went wrong in Pakistan's defeat against USA and how Babar Azam is failing to lead from the front.
"I don't believe in criticism or criticism for the sake of criticism. I think it should be constructive...because we love our team, our nation," said Zafar in a video he posted on the microblogging platform 'X'.
Pakistan suffered a shock 'Super Over' defeat in their opening match of the tournament against co-hosts USA, and Zafar was upset about the fact that Babar Azam chose to not put himself in the line of fire by coming out to bat in the 'Super Over'.
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"Looking at a captain, we want to be inspired," he said. "If you are listening, Babar, a leader or captain is the leader because he leads from the front....a leader's speciality is that a leader is fearless and has no self-doubt. That is why he is a leader."
Zafar went on to mentions Pakistan's ODI against Australia from the past where the Aussies needed four runs to win in the final over and captain Imran Khan came on to bowl himself and won the match for his team.
"So what we expect from you, Babar, is that you go into the field with that same belief and confidence. Winning and losing is part of the game, but face it and play with fear because you are an amazing player," said Zafar, a leading personality from the entertainment industry in Pakistan.
Of late, Pakistan management and the country cricket board have been criticized on the aspect of players' fitness, with the heavyset Azam Khan central to that argument.
Zafar concurred that it's difficult for a player or team to perform if they don't meet the fitness standards.
"There are global standards for fitness, you can't survive without that. I won't take the name of the player but I think we should really focus on (fitness)...And it's not just physical fitness. The body follows the mind. So mental fitness is (also) very important. The decisions that you take in mind get manifested in your physical reality," he said.
He also advised Pakistan cricketers to not by shy of speaking in their own language, Urdu.
"We should be proud of our culture and language. It's not that you are considered 'cool' only if you talk in English. Talk freely in your own language (Urdu). Translator can come and translate. Many players around the world talk in their own language with pride," he opined.
He concluded his message by wishing his team for the match against India.
"Best wishes for tomorrow (Saturday)...khel lena bas."
