Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Why Pakistan are favourites for T20 World Cup

July 12, 2022 17:38 IST

IMAGE: Pakistan, who are currently ranked third in the ICC T20I team rankings, have had a string of good results in the shortest format over the last 12 months. Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Pace legend Waqar Younis is backing Pakistan to win the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia later this year, saying the pitches Down Under could favour their potent bowling attack.

 

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November.

"We (Pakistan) stand a really good chance of doing well at this World Cup," Waqar told ICC Digital.

The former Pakistan head coach is of the opinion that the pitches in Australia will favour their batters.

"The pitches in Australia are generally very good batting pitches and Pakistan do have good batters who can really play well in these conditions," he said.

Pakistan, who are currently ranked third in the ICC T20I team rankings, have had a string of good results in the shortest format over the last 12 months.

Waqar, who is Pakistan's second-highest wicket-taker in both Test and ODIs, said that star batter Babar Azam will play a key role in the top-order.

"Babar is definitely going to be the key batter at the top of the order," he said.

"I think he will have the impact that he has always had and then of course Rizwan is playing very well and the bowling attack they have got it one of the best in the world," he added.

Pakistan's bowling attack includes the likes of speedsters Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, with spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz complementing them.

"We have tried about six or seven fast bowlers in the last year or so and they are all going really well," Waqar noted.

"Pakistan's fast bowling attack is very good and they can mix it up with Shadab and Nawaz as they are good spinners also," he added.

Pakistan will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign on October 23 when the Babar Azam-led side takes on India at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Pakistan won the T20 World Cup in 2009, and reached the semi-finals of the 2021 edition in the UAE.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.