Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, second from right, and teammates in Lahore. (AP photo) NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja sparked a fresh cross-border debate on social media after he took a swipe at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s celebratory post following Pakistan’s 22-run win over Australia in the first T20I in Lahore.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Soon after Pakistan secured the series opener at the Gaddafi Stadium, Sharif went to X to congratulate the Salman Ali Agha-led side, calling it a “proud moment for the nation” and praising PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his role in boosting Pakistan cricket.
Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan? | Greenstone Lobo predicts the ideal player for the T20 World Cup
“Well done Pakistan team for an electrifying performance against Australia in the first T20I… It’s a proud moment for the nation,” Sharif wrote.However, Jadeja was quick to respond with a scathing remark that went viral within minutes.“Pakistan-jo ki choti choti khushiya. I first saw the Prime Minister’s tweet after he won the first match of the bilateral series,” Jadeja wrote in a comment that many interpreted as a dig at both the extent of the celebrations and the context of the win. On the field, Pakistan made the most of the opportunity ahead of the T20 World Cup, captain Salman Ali Agha leading from the front. Promoted to No.3, Agha smashed a fluent 39, later confirming that the role is locked for the rest of the series and the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.“Yes, I will be batting at No. 3. We expect to face a lot of spin and I believe I can dominate the spin during the power-play,” Agha said after the match.Saim Ayub played with bat and ball, scoring 40 at the top and dismissing both Australian openers. Pakistan made 168/8 before stifling Australia’s spin chase by claiming six wickets as the visitors were restricted to 146/8.
