‘IPL is Tough & Quality Cricket’: Ex-Pakistan Star Says India Will ‘Definitely’ Win against Babar Azam & Co in T20 World Cup – News18

The United States of America is all decked up to host the T20 World Cup 2024 while the fans are eagerly waiting for the Indian vs Pakistan fixture. The newly established facility at Nassau County will witness the electrifying clash on June 9.

India’s unbeaten streak against Pakistan in T20 World Cups came to an end when Babar Azam & Co. registered a resounding 10-wicket win in the 2021 edition of the tournament. However, the men in blue, settled the score next year with a thrilling last-ball victory at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2022.

With a 5-1 lead in the showpiece event, Team India eyes another triumphant run against arch-rivals on American soil. Ahead of the much-anticipated face-off, experts from both countries have started picking up the team that could come out on top this time. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal opined that Rohit Sharma’s Team India will beat Pakistan this time around as well.

ALSO READ | Suresh Raina Names India’s ‘Trump Card’ in T20 World Cup

“Definitely India!” said Akmal in reply to a fan’s question on Instagram.

He agreed with former England Michael Vaughan’s opinion on the England player withdrawing from IPL to play against Pakistan in a bilateral series. Speaking on a podcast, Vaughan opined that Jos Buttler and other English players would have prepared better for the World Cup if they had stayed back for the business end of the tournament.

The England vs Pakistan 4-match series was dominated by the English weather as two games were washed out while the hosts comfortably won the rest two, clinching the series 2-nil.

“Over the past few days, I have wondered why a former England captain is commenting and taking Pakistan cricket non-seriously. It has been a painful thought, but I think he was correct in his assessment,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel.

“Everybody knows the level of Pakistan cricket. We are losing against smaller teams like Ireland and in that sense, Vaughan said that it is not a tough series. So the fault is ours. Had it been any other team like New Zealand, South Africa and India then Vaughan would not have said it,” he added.

“We need to understand that in IPL, the best bowlers and batters are participating with crowds of 40 to 50,000. So it is tough cricket and quality cricket,” he explained.