'Abb promo ke liye bhi rone lage tumlog' - Fans react as Shoaib Akhtar slams Apex Cricket Council for excluding Babar Azam in SRK-starrer World Cup promo

Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan (Source: Twitter)

Apex Cricket Council dropped a 2 minute 13-second-long promo video of the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The promotional campaign title ‘It Take One Day’ has been received with much love and appreciation by the fans. It conceptualises the nine emotions a fan goes through during a cricket match - anguish, bravery, glory, joy, passion, power, pride, respect, and wonder.

However, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar had a stark criticism for the promo. He wrote in a 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.” But, unlike what Shoaib Akhtar opined the promo video did mention snaps of Pakistan players Wahab Riaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi. But it is true that the video has no mention of Babar Azam or Pakistan’s World Cup win in 1992 under Imran Khan.

India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 clash is set to take place on October 15

Other than Shah Rukh Khan himself, the video features a star-studded line up of Indian cricketers like Jemimah Rodrigues, Dinesh Karthik, and Shubman Gill beside MS Dhoni’s iconic six in the 2011 World Cup final. There are also a few guest appearances by Eoin Morgan, the World Cup-winning England captain in the previous edition, former South Africa player Jonty Rhodes, and Sri Lanka legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

The ODI World Cup 2023 will be hosted by India between October 5 and November 19. The headline clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is scheduled for October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The hype for the game has already sky-rocketed with air tickets and hotel booking rates soaring newer height every day. The tournament kick starts with a rematch of the previous final between England and New Zealand at the same venue in Ahmedabad.

Here's how fans reacted:

Ab promo keliye bhi rone lage tum log🤣🤣🤣 pity you bro, waise Pakistan flag, fans, Shaheen Afridi, Wahab Riaz were there in the promo, chashma lagake firse dekhle bhai.

— Rahul Varma (@urscoolrahul) July 22, 2023

Finally you are admitting Babar Azam is a Brand. Cool enough 😎

— Ehtisham Siddique (@iMShami_) July 22, 2023

Well said, Rawalpindi Express 🔥

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) July 22, 2023

Ro Mat Bhaijaan 😂😂

— Narendra Modi fan (@narendramodi177) July 22, 2023

But, If it's a joke then why no one is laughing...

— Dr. Maulik Modi (@iamthemaulik) July 22, 2023

👏 pic.twitter.com/ysO3iKKzSQ

— Waqas (@1Vqas) July 22, 2023

Acha chamchey … sirf apne liye hi bak bak

— Shehzad Malik (@Shzzmlk) July 22, 2023

World is a happier & a safer place without Pakistan

— Kreately.in (@KreatelyMedia) July 23, 2023