'The day Virat plays in Lahore, Karachi': Ex-Pak captain reveals Kohli's craze in rival nation

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali lavished praise on India star batter Virat Kohli ahead of the India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 clash which is scheduled to take place at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. He said that the day when Kohli plays in  Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, or in Multan then the whole crowd of the nation will support him. 

Kohli has not yet played a single game in Pakistan because of border tensions between neighbouring nations. Team India last went to Pakistan for a cricket match in 2008 for the Asia Cup.

“The day Virat plays in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi or in Multan, only then you guys will understand his craze in Pakistan. “You won’t believe but the stadium will be filled with green jerseys, magar peeche naam Babar ya Shaheen ka nahi, Virat ka hoga aur No 18 ke saath (but the name on the backs won’t be Babar Azam or Shaheen Shah Afridi, it will Virat Kohli’s along with his jersey No 18),” Hasan Ali told Indian express.

 

Azhar also revealed that he prayed for Kohli when he was going through a rough patch in his career. He also slammed the critics of Kohli. 

“When he was out of form, I prayed so many times for him. Allah isko aaj run banane do (Please god let him score). I have prayed for Kohli. I don’t know why but I did consistently for three years,” he laughs. “You will find people, who will criticise Virat’s batting but before criticising him at least try and understand what he has done for over 15 years. There was a dip but he bounced back. I have not seen anyone doing that,” says Azhar.

 

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There are so many occasions during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) when Pakistani fans were seen holding the placards of former India captain Kohli.  Azhar also revealed that he often saw fans praying for Kohli to score runs against Pakistan. 
 

 

“Virat run kar le aur Pakistan match jeet jaaye ye maine khud suna hai (Virat can score the runs but Pakistan should win, this I have heard myself),” says Ali.

 

The former Pakistan skipper compared MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly with Kohli by calling him the role model of youth. He also hailed Kohli for setting the bar for fitness in the game of cricket. 

 

“First and foremost, he has changed Indian cricket. You can debate that Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni have also played a role. But when it comes to fitness, there is no one like Virat Kohli. He has led by example. He is a role model to all the youths. Now in our part of the world, we have someone who is the most fit athlete. Earlier we used to give examples of athletes from the West. Now Virat has set that bar. The Pakistani youths are fascinated by the sacrifices he has made. You see his interviews where he is talking about how he quit having his favourite food (Chole Bhature) for cricket,” former Pakistan cricketer said.

 

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