Expect huge queues and traffic jams if Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni visit Pakistan: Wasim Akram

Legendary fast bowler, Wasim Akram, speaking in an interview with India TV channel, has said that the popularity of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in Pakistan is so huge that there will be long queues and heavy traffic jams to catch a glimpse of the Indian stars.

“Expect huge queues (and) traffic jams if Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni visit Pakistan,” Akram told the India TV.

The statement comes just days after controversy erupted in Pakistan after Shahid Afridi stated that he receives more love than in India than Pakistan. While Afridi faced heat from the Pakistan media and was shamed by ex-cricketer Javed Miandad for making such statements, Akram feels that there was no need to create an issue out of his statement.

The legendary left-arm pacer said that he too was given a lot of love by Indian fans and cited the standing ovation his team got in Chennai in 1999 after beating India in a Test match as an example.

The Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling coach stated that the focus now should be on the ICC World Twenty20 instead of Afridi’s comments.

Team India is set to face New Zealand in the opening game of ICC World T20 2016 today at Nagpur. Incidentally, the ‘Men in Blue’ have a terrible record against the Kiwis in the T20 World Cups as they have lost all the four matches that they have played against the island nation.

Pakistan, however, will kick-start their World T20 campaign against minnows Bangladesh at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The two fierce South-Asian rivals are scheduled to clash against each other in a group stage match of the ICC World T20 2016 at the Mecca of Indian cricket on Saturday.