T20 World Cup 2024 ambassadors Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi, opened up on the details of their chat during the high-stakes India-Pakistan match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.
India won by 6 runs in the closely contested affair. Batting first, India stumbled and set a modest 120-run target. Pakistan looked well on course at 80/3 in the 14th over, but a clinical death-bowling display from Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian pace attack restricted the 2009 champions to just 113 runs.
In the chase, Mohammad Rizwan‘s valiant knock brought Pakistan within touching distance of victory. However, a devastating spell from Jasprit Bumrah, who dismissed both Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, ended their hopes. Lacking key partnerships, the team ultimately fell short by six runs.
In a video uploaded on social media on Tuesday, Yuvraj was shown consoling a disappointed Shahid Afridi who was stunned by Pakistan’s defeat from a winning position. Afridi later revealed that although Yuvraj had congratulated him early during Pakistan’s run chase, he remained doubtful about their chances of victory.
This is how the conversation went down :
Yuvraj – Lala, what’s the matter, why are you sad?
Afridi – Is it right or wrong for me to feel sad about the game? Pakistan, should’ve not lost this match. When we needed 40 more runs to win, Yuvraj told me ‘Congratulations, Lala! I’m leaving and won’t watch the rest of the game.’ I replied ‘Yuvi, don’t congratulate me too soon; 40 runs is a lot on this pitch.
Yuvraj – I said Pakistan will win. But but I remained confident that India could be victorious. Regardless of the outcome the spirit of camaraderie that should endure between the two sides.
After losing their opening games against USA and India, Pakistan defeated Canada and register their first win in the T20 World Cup 2024.