“If India helps us, we will always be thankful”, Shoaib Akhtar wants India to help Pak fight COVID-19

A video of Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar went viral on social media in which he has sought help from India amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Everyone is well aware of the fact that Pakistan is going through a bad patch.

Pakistan is seeing the shortage of face masks since the coronavirus pandemic. In Pakistan, Hospitals and healthcare facilities are struggling to cope with the daily inflow of patients and lack of beds, equipment like ventilators in the time of crisis.

He made a request that India and Pakistan should come together to fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. He said both countries should help each other in the time of crisis. He said that if India provides 10,000 ventilators to Pakistan in this hard time, Pakistan will always be grateful to India.

In Islamabad, the situation is volatile as more than 4,000 coronavirus cases have been reported while over 60 have died from the infection. Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, who has played all formats of the game. He was given the title “Rawalpindi Express” as he was the fastest bowler in the world.

Expressing his desire, The Rawalpindi Express said that India and Pakistan should play a three-match ODI or a T20I series behind closed doors which can raise millions of dollars of funds to help both the countries to battle coronavirus pandemic. 

“I want India and Pakistan to play a series. I want it to happen without crowds, just broadcasting unit should be there and the matches should be televised, three ODIs or T20Is should be played. I cannot understand why this is a bad idea,” Akhtar said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

“Players can play after undergoing testing, if the series happens, just think how many people will watch the matches on television, think about the funds the series can generate. For the first time, there will be no loser, there is everything to gain, imagine Indian team winning the match, and the funds going to Pakistan as well and vis-a-vis,” the Rawalpindi Express said.

Akhtar said he knows that the relationship between the two nations is complex and largely hostile. However, he said now is the time for both the countries to think above the petty fights and differences, both Asian countries should think above Hindu and Muslims and only think about saving human lives and coming out of this difficult situation.

Writer, historian, and activist Dharam Sikarwar is a very active author The Youth. He writes on national and international issues, environment, politics. He is an avid book reader as well.