Aamer Sohail's comments might have charged Pakistan up against India: Harbhajan Singh

Former Pakistan cricket Aamer Sohail previously had commented that Pakistan’s progress to the Champions Trophy 2017 finals was not on the basis of their performance, but due to the external factors which allowed the Men in Green made a revival to reach the finale.

Defending champions India lost the match to their arch-rivals by a margin of 180 runs, in a tie which was supposed to go down the wire. This win was Pakistan‘s first Champions Trophy title and was the first trophy since the 1992 World Cup win. Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that in a crucial tournament such as this, the bowlers had to put in more efforts to avoid the extra runs on the board.

No-ball cost India the game

The offie was referring to the incident in the fourth over of the innings when Jasprit Bumrah overstepped to give the Pakistan opener, Fakhar Zaman, a life line after he was ruled out caught behind.

“Nobody does it on purpose but it shouldn’t have happened. That cost us quite a lot. This is what we have to be careful about when we come for big games or any game. Kapil Dev didn’t bowl a single no ball in his entire career. He’s also a human, – if he could do it, so can we,” Harbhajan Singh told India Today.

Harbhajan further commented on the allegations made by the former Pakistan cricketer Aamer Sohail, which could have instigated the Pakistan outrage in the finals.

“I actually said the other day that whatever Aamer Sohail said on TV against the Pakistan team could actually bring them together. That is probably one of things they had in their mind, to do well and they were really determined. When I saw them play with the bat and the ball, they were right there with the intent. Credit to them for playing really well,” he added.

The former offie further encouraged the Indian fans to continue their support for the team, despite the hammering at the hands of arch-rivals.

Indian spinners had an off day

Bhajji was terribly cross with the attitude of the Indian spinners, who did not look to take wickets during the middle over of the innings.

“I’ve been saying that in the middle overs, we need to look to take wickets. As a spinner, as a fast bowler, we have to have that attitude to try to get wickets.

“If you are looking to attack, you may go for 70 odd runs but you have a great chance of picking 2-3 wickets, which can change the course of the game and that should be the attitude whenever we play on good wickets. Maybe this is a lesson for the spinners to target wickets in such conditions,” Harbhajan opined.

Pakistani team were up to the task

He concluded his interview, by congratulating the Pakistani team for their determined efforts in the finals, despite a dreadful start to the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy.

“Have to credit the Pakistani batsmen. The batted beautifully on a placid wicket I would say, and once they got runs on the board, they were brilliant with the ball.

“We didn’t play well but that’s not the end of the world. We will come back and get what we want. I would just request people to respect each other,” Harbhajan signed off.