‘It seemed like a BCCI event’ - Mickey Arthur talks of lack of support for Pakistan following crushing defeat against India

Game 12 of the ongoing ODI World Cup ended in disappointment for Babar Azam-led Pakistan. Taking on India, Pakistan succumbed to yet another loss to their arch-rivals in the ODI World Cup. Team India put forth a brilliant performance and won the game by seven wickets.

Throughout the game, it was evident that the fans were completely behind Team India. Notably, the tournament is being completely hosted by India, so massive fan support for the team is inevitable. Speaking of the same, Pakistan’s team director, Mickey Arthur, came forward to state his opinion.

Arthur came forward to brutally state that the game between India and Pakistan felt like a BCCI event rather than an ICC one. He did opine that he was not making excuses, but the lack of fan support for Pakistan did affect them.

"Look, I'd be lying if I said it did not affect us; it didn't seem like an ICC event, to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event. I didn't hear Dil Dil Pakistan coming through the microphones too often tonight,” Mickey Arthur said at the post-match press conference.

"So yes, that does play a role, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse because for us it was about living the moment, it was about the next ball, and it was about how we were going to combat the Indian players tonight,” he added.

Wasim Akram lambasts Mickey Arthur for his comments

Seeing Arthur’s comments over the crowd support in the India game, former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram took centre stage, lambasted Arthur for his opinion, and called the team director out for diverting attention from the actual topics to discuss. 

"(He is) diverting attention. A lot of people are disheartened and you're making them emotional. I think he should discuss what is his job as a professional rather than showing a new path. As a coach, he shouldn't have said that,” Wasim Akram said in ‘The Pavilion’ show on the A Sports YouTube channel. 

“Brother, tell me what was the plan? How did you prepare to play Kuldeep Yadav? That's what we want to hear. Not this random stuff. You think you can get away with this. No, you can't, unfortunately,” he added.