News Desk |
The world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, took a hilarious dig at Team India during an opening ceremony of Cricket World Cup 2019 in London. The 21-year old Malala Yousafzai represented Pakistan along with Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali at the sixty-second challenge of gully cricket, part of the star-studded opening ceremony was held outside the Buckingham Palace.
Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble and Bollywood celebrity Farhan Akhtar turned up to represent India in the challenge. But things did not go well for India as Kumble, who has been out of the game for a long time, and Akhtar, who in his own words had retired in 2011, scored just 19 runs, the lowest amongst all the countries.
Women should engage more in sports and we all have to contribute to that and encourage women and girls
Host England scored 74 runs, Australia with a slightly lower score scored 69 runs while Pakistan scored 38 runs in the challenge.
Malala when asked about the seventh spot of Pakistan ranking and team performance by host Shibani Dandekar, could not resist but troll India.
“Pakistan, we were okay, not too bad. We came seventh. But at least we were not last like India,” she joked.
https://twitter.com/moonalala/status/1133777943145177089
The Nobel Prize Girl @Malala Supporting her team Pakistan wearing Green Shirt earlier at the Buckingham Palace during the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup 2019. #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/7oYlNeV9UX
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) May 29, 2019
Malala, mindful of the sensitivity of the India-Pakistan relations, quickly came up with another statement stating that she hopes the games will be played in the right spirits and help bring both the nations closer.
Read more: Malala shares her struggles in #10yearChallenge
Malala Yousafzai, the protagonist of girl’s education and women empowerment, encouraged women to take up cricket as their profession. She cited Sana Mir as the role model for Pakistani girls aspiring to join Pakistan’s women’s cricket team.
@Malala representing #Pakistan at #CWC19 opening ceremony. She represented Pakistan along with Pakistani cricketer @AzharAli_ in 60 second challenge at the opening ceremony of @ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/DXkSwdvdKN
— Fazila Ayub Malik (@FazilaAyubMalik) May 30, 2019
Azhar Ali and Malala Yousafzai representing Team Pakistan at the Cricket World Cup 2019 opening ceremony.#CWC19 pic.twitter.com/pMIdEF1ilt
— Imran Ahmed (@RajaImran288) May 29, 2019
“Right now we are seeing more and more women taking part in sporting activities. In Pakistan, we have some amazing cricketers, including Sana Mir. These role models are inspiring women to believe in themselves that they are capable of anything. Women should engage more in sports and we all have to contribute to that and encourage women and girls,” Malala said.