Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has reserved big praise for Indian superstar Virat Kohli and said that the former Indian captain is a role model for many around the world. According to him, Kohli is the most popular cricketer in Pakistan, and if he travels with the Indian team to Pakistan next year for the ICC Champions Trophy, he will receive a different kind of support.
In an interview with the Times of India, Akmal said Pakistani fans love Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah more than their own cricket team players, and he urged the legendary Indian batters to visit Pakistan once before retirement.
“Virat and Rohit should visit Pakistan before they retire. These two are stars of world cricket, travelling across the globe to play the game. Every single fan loves them. They have a massive fan base due to their batting and match-winning performances. The fan following they will experience in Pakistan will surpass anything they’ve seen elsewhere,” Akmal said.
The 42-year-old former wicketkeeper-batter said Bumrah is currently the best pacer in the world, and Rohit is a World Cup-winning captain.
“Virat is a role model for many around the world; Rohit is the World Cup-winning captain, and Bumrah is currently the best pacer in the world. When players like Virat, Rohit, and Bumrah visit Pakistan, it will evoke unique feelings in every fan. Virat has been to Pakistan during his under-19 days, but he wasn’t as popular then,” Akmal said.
“If Virat Kohli visits Pakistan now, he will truly see his popularity here. He will receive a different kind of support in Pakistan. No cricketer is more popular than Virat in Pakistan; he has a bigger fan following than any other cricketer in the world. Pakistani fans love Virat, Rohit, and Bumrah more than any of their own cricket team players,” the former wicketkeeper added.
Rohit has travelled to Pakistan once with the Indian team. He was part of the MS Dhoni-led side that toured Pakistan in 2008 to take part in the Asia Cup and played in all six matches at the National Stadium in Karachi, but Kohli and Bumrah have never played any international match in Pakistan. India hasn’t travelled to the neighbouring country since 2008.
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