Waqar Younis takes a veiled dig at India after semi-final loss, says ‘never abuse the game’

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis was at it again after India lost their semi-final against New Zealand by 18 runs at the ICC World Cup 2019. The former speedster, who had questioned India’s sportsmanship after they lost to England in a league match that had virtually erased Pakistan’s chances of making the semi-finals, took another oblique dig at Virat Kohli’s team after its shock defeat at Old Trafford. He came up with the advice of “Never Abuse The Game”.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat in the game that was scheduled on Tuesday. However, the match then spilled onto the reserve day as rain intervened when the Black Caps were 211 for 5. The match resumed from there on Wednesday and the batting team ended up at 239 for 8 after 50 overs.

India then had a disastrous start as their top three batters were back into the pavilion with just six on board and it was an uphill task from there on. Yet, Ravindra Jadeja’s counter-attacking 77 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 50 took India close to the target but they eventually fell 18 runs short of the target.

India lose second WC semi-final on the trot

This is the second consecutive semi-final that India have lost in the World Cup. In 2015, they had lost to Australia by 95 runs in Sydney and it was Dhoni who was captaining the side. Overall, this is India’s fourth semi-final loss in the quadrennial event since 1987 when they lost to England at home.

The 47-year-old Younis, who was at the ground on Wednesday, later said in a tweet that cricket is a great leveller and bites back when one is expecting the least. “I learnt a great lesson today “Never Abuse The Game”,” he added.

Such a brutal game this Cricket and a great leveller… Bites you back when you are expecting the least #CWC19 I learnt a great lesson today “Never Abuse The Game” #INDvsNZL

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) July 10, 2019

The former player was furious after India’s 31-run defeat to England at Edgbaston on June 30 as that had put Pakistan’s chances of making the semi-finals under great jeopardy. He said on that occasion in another tweet that the sportsmanship of a few champions got tested and they failed badly.

It's not who you are.. What you do in life defines who you are.. Me not bothered if Pakistan gets to the semis or not but one thing is for sure.. Sportsmanship of few Champions got tested and they failed badly #INDvsEND #CWC2019

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) June 30, 2019

Pakistan could not make it to the semis despite finishing on same points as with New Zealand but had an inferior net run-rate.