The Pakistani public has sparked controversy with an unusual appeal ahead of the T20 World Cup. Fans are urging the Sri Lankan cricket team to play poorly against Pakistan cricket team to help Pakistan advance further.
Pakistani users took to social media to justify their demand. They claimed Pakistan had shown a big heart by agreeing to play matches against the India cricket team, popularly known as the Men in Blue, in Sri Lanka despite tense relations.
According to these users, the decision was made so that Sri Lankan cricket would not suffer. However, critics argue this generosity seems conditional, as Pakistan fans are now openly asking for favours instead of trusting their team’s performance.
The demand is for Sri Lanka to perform extremely badly. This, they believe, would improve Pakistan’s chances of reaching the World Cup semi-finals and ensure Sri Lanka continues to host key matches.
If this happens, the semi-finals would be held in Sri Lanka, which would be a setback for Indian cricket. Fans further claim that if Pakistan reaches the final, India would lose hosting rights.
In that scenario, the final would be played in Colombo instead of Ahmedabad. While this outcome is being projected as Pakistan’s dream, the reaction online has been harsh.
Social media users across the cricketing world have mocked the plea. Many have called it embarrassing, sarcastically describing it as the best game Pakistan cricket has ever played.
Despite the noise, fans are eager for the contest. Both teams are set to face each other later this evening, with attention firmly on who delivers on the field.
