New Delhi: In of the bizarre comments made by a Pakistan-based journalist, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was accused of failing to perform against India in the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the lure of a lucrative deal presented to him in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Maxwell made seven runs off five deliveries before he was cleaned up by Axar Patel in the 38th over. His dismissal immediately came after he launched the ball over the deep square-leg with a sweep shot for a six against the same bowler.
The Australian player was also seen dropping a catch of Indian batter Virat Kohli while the latter was batting on 51 off Cooper Connolly’s bowling in the 26th over of India’s 264-run chase.
A Pakistani reporter going with the name of Naseem Rajput is of the opinion that Maxwell wasn’t at his best and didn’t show his true potential against India. He claimed that because of his association with the IPL, the Australian all-rounder wasn’t playing for his country and instead it looked as if he was playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (his previous IPL team) and former teammate Virat Kohli.
In a video widely surfaced on social media, Naseem, while speaking to a local Pakistan news channel, said:
“We all say Maxwell, very well. Today I felt Maxwell was playing for Kohli’s RCB team. The ball in which he got out wasn’t a miracle ball. Alex Carey and Steve Smith created the foundation and Maxwell could’ve taken them to 300. Then he dropped Kohli’s catch as well. It’s the lucrative IPL contract that brings international cricket to a standstill.”
According to Pakistan media “Maxwell ne match fix Kiya tha with India” 😹👍
RCB blood maxi 😭🙏 pic.twitter.com/mRXwafXIZU— Wellu (@Wellutwt) March 7, 2025
Kohli played a crucial knock of 84 from 98 balls to pave India’s way into the final of the Champions Trophy. Rohit Sharma’s team defeated Australia by four wickets and will face New Zealand in the final on Sunday (March 9) in Dubai.
Maxwell was released by RCB ahead of the IPL 2025 auction window. The 36-year-old will make a return to the Punjab Kings for his third stint in the IPL after the franchise purchased him in the mega auction last year for a sizeable sum of INR 4.20 crore.
Pakistani journalist accused Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell of underperforming in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against India due to an alleged lucrative IPL deal. Rajput claimed Maxwell prioritized his IPL contract, and former teammate Virat Kohli, over Australia’s success. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
