ODI World Cup 2023

Former Pakistan cricketer slams Cricket Governing Body for not featuring Babar Azam in 2023 World Cup launch video

The 2023 ODI World Cup will be held in India. India will host the ODI World Cup for the first time since 2011. The promotional video for the World Cup went viral on social media and created a big frenzy. The tournament will take place on October 5. The promotional video was voiced by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and it was a huge hit in the sub-continent in regions like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. However, there was one man that was left dissatisfied with what was aired and that was Shoaib Akhtar. Akhtar took to social media to openly express his frustration for omitting Pakistan captain Babar Azam from the promo video.

Here is the tweet:

Whoever thought that World Cup promo will be complete without Pakistan & Babar Azam's significant presence, has actually presented himself as a joke.
Come on guys, time to grow up a bit.

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) July 22, 2023

He took a potshot at the Cricket Governing Body and pointed out that they had made a glaring error from their side. The video clip shared by the Cricket Governing Body is two minutes and thirteen seconds in total. The video clip features reactions from fans and also landmark moments that have taken place in ODI cricket. The fact that Shah Rukh is voicing the video makes it all the more appealing.

The 2023 World Cup launch video also features Shaheen Afridi and Wahab Riaz

The video features some Indian superstar cricketers such as the likes of Shubman Gill, Jemimah Rodrigues and Dinesh Karthik. There are other greats of the game that have made their presence felt in the video such as South African great Jonty Rhodes. Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan and Indian batting sensation Shubman Gill. The cricket-crazy fans in India will turn out in big numbers and the crowd at stadiums will pack the rafters when the 2023 World Cup begins.

The video however shows some Pakistani presence as Wahab Riaz and Shaheen Afridi are a part of the video. Riaz had played in the 2011 World Cup semi-final against India where he picked up a five-wicket haul. Then again in the 2015 World Cup in Australia, he bowled a fiery spell to Shane Watson that is remembered even today. Shaheen has been making a name for himself with his bowling exploits in the international circuit.