Host and rapper Ahmed Ali Butt, along with a great number of his fellow Pakistanis, felt profound disappointment following Pakistan's crushing defeat in Sunday's crucial match against India. The team's third appearance in the T20 World Cup concluded in a demoralizing loss, finishing a staggering 61 runs behind their target.
Venting his frustration online, Butt shared an Instagram story in which he declared that the sport has been "dead for years now." He attributed this decline to an absence of genuine talent, accountability, motivation, and other essential qualities within the men's national team.
Butt further contended that the players' priorities have shifted away from the sport itself, suggesting they are now more focused on political maneuvering, commercial endorsements, social media presence, and similar pursuits. He lamented that cricket has been reduced to little more than a "cash cow," cynically adding that "they will milk it till it bleeds out."
He was understandably not alone in holding these views. Screenwriter Yasir Hussain had earlier shared a clip of former skipper Shahid Afridi saying if he were in charge, he’d have benched senior players like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, even his son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi, to give new players a chance to take the field.
“If the seniors are not performing, bring in the juniors,” Shahid told anchors on Samaa TV in the clip. Hussain said the cricketer’s advice must be heeded.
Actor Maya Ali said it would’ve been better had we just not played the match entirely, likely referring to Pakistan’s threats of boycotting the match after a dispute between Bangladesh, India, and the International Cricket Council left the Bangladeshi cricket team unable to participate in the tournament.
