Pakistan great Wasim Akram has urged fans on both sides of the India-Pakistan divide to stop carrying the emotions of past conflicts into cricket, insisting that one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries should ultimately be treated as nothing more than a game. Akram, while speaking on the 1 Mint podcast, also reflected on his long-standing association with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, recalling how the young left-arner was a huge fan of his when the two first met in Australia. Akram said he gave Pathan a few tips early in his career, but joked that his former admirer now regularly posts comments against Pakistan on social media. “It’s a different thing that he keeps tweeting some or the other thing against Pakistan. But our fans are ready too. They don’t have the tendency to ignore either. They just have to reply,” Akram said. The comments came while Akram was discussing the extraordinary attention and emotion surrounding India-Pakistan matches, which have increasingly become a battleground on social media as much as they are contests on the cricket field.
‘It’s only a frikkin game’
Akram, who played in some of the most memorable India-Pakistan contests of his era, believes fans should not allow sporting results to become an extension of historical and political tensions. “People have too much time. Why can’t they understand? It’s only a frikkin game. At the end of the day, it’s just a match. Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose. And move on to the next one,” he said. “But no, what happened many moons ago still lingers. Revenge and all is so 1970. It’s the classic ‘an empty mind is a devil’s workshop’ thought process,” he added. Akram's message comes at a time when every India-Pakistan encounter generates enormous discussion online, with supporters often carrying the rivalry well beyond the boundaries of the cricket field. For the former Pakistan captain, however, the basic principle remains simple: one side wins, the other loses, and both move on.
When Akram helped a young Irfan Pathan
Akram also recalled his first interaction with Pathan, who grew up watching Pakistan's legendary left-arm fast bowlers and was frequently compared with Akram after bursting onto the international scene. “Irfan met me in 2004 on his first tour to Australia; I was commentating. He was a big fan. Grew up watching us. I gave him a few tips here and there, but he did well early on in his career,” Akram said. Pathan's bowling action bore similarities to Akram's, and the Pakistani great explained that his advice was less about changing the young bowler's technique and more about helping him understand the tactical aspects of fast bowling. “His action was similar to mine from the very beginning. But when players ask you about something, what you tell them is mostly about the mindset. Action and all is fine, because at that stage, you have reached that level where you’re representing the country,” he said. “Things like wrist position and how to suss out a batsman. When to use variations, when not to. So yeah, it was good fun. Irfan is a good boy; he still keeps meeting me.” Pathan went on to become one of India's most effective left-arm fast bowlers of the 2000s. His ability to swing the new ball and generate movement made comparisons with Akram inevitable, while his versatility eventually turned him into an important all-rounder.
Irfan Pathan (ANI Photo)
Pathan and his Pakistan rivalry
Pathan also developed a formidable record against Pakistan, taking 67 wickets in 36 internationals — 27 in Tests, 34 in ODIs and six in T20Is. One of his most memorable performances came in Karachi in 2006, when he became only the second Indian to take a Test hat-trick, removing Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf in the first over of the innings. Since retirement, Pathan has remained one of the most outspoken former Indian cricketers on social media and television. He has occasionally taken aim at Pakistan and its cricketers, including during the aftermath of high-profile India-Pakistan encounters. Akram, however, appeared to take the banter in his stride. While acknowledging Pathan's occasional anti-Pakistan posts, he also pointed out that fans on both sides are equally unwilling to let such comments pass. But the former Pakistan captain wants the line between sporting competition and everything beyond it to remain clear. “Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose. And move on to the next one,” Akram said.
