Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has dismissed Virendar Sehwag’s claims that the Rawalpindi Express only praises India because “it makes good business.”
Speaking about the controversy, Akhtar said:
There’s a video that has gone viral, it’s an old video of my friend Sehwag. Sehwag, you know, is a casual guy and speaks in a non-serious manner. But he did say that I praise India because it makes quick money.
However, the pacer was quick to dismiss this as a joke and went on to take a friendly dig at Sehwag as well.
Sehwag is a great friend of mine. He said these words in a light-heartened way but people were quick to take things out of context. I mean, I have more money than he has hair on his head.
The Rawalpindi express further claimed that everybody is too quick to take the words from across the border in a negative context and that should not be the case.
I have fans across the world, not just in India. That’s why I have the fastest growing YouTube channel. It does not mean that I’m looking to make money if I compliment them. Ramiz Raja and Rashid Latif say good things about India as well.
“I do think that there is a factor of jealousy. I have been targeted time and again. We are already politically divided but now people want to divide cricket as well,” he added.
Par Apki YouTube Ki Video Se Ek Bat Clear Hoti Hai
Indian Ko Zaida Promote Kiya Jata hai
Ye Bhi Ek Fact hai
Sehwag & Shoaib seem very witty by nature. In Pakistan Sehwag / Ganguly / Kohli & Sachin are very popular. This connectivity will normalize relationships. We want both nations play on both soils to entertain Indo Pak spectators.
I liked Shoaib’s initial videos during the World cup. But it’s embarrassing the way he talks about India now during his videos, just to tap into their market. I have to agree with Sehwag on this one.