Can Pakistan Challenge India in World Cup 2023?
When the Asia Cup kicked off last month, Pakistan was considered one of the frontrunners to lift the trophy. They possessed a formidable pace attack, featuring the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Harris Rauf, who had the potential to dismantle any opposition.
In the initial matches, Pakistan’s pace bowlers appeared menacing, and they were seen as the team to beat. However, one fateful encounter against arch-rivals India changed the course of their campaign. Their pacers leaked runs, and their batsmen struggled while chasing a challenging target.
To add to their woes, two of their top fast bowlers, Naseem and Rauf, sustained injuries. Naseem’s injury ruled him out of the upcoming World Cup, dealing a significant blow to Pakistan’s aspirations.
After their disappointing performance in the Asia Cup, captain Babar Azam and the entire team faced criticism from passionate cricket fans and the media alike. Some critics even called for Babar to step down as captain.
However, chief selector Inzamam ul Haq chose to back Babar, retaining him as captain for the World Cup, albeit without the injured Naseem.
Pakistan is set to depart for Hyderabad via Dubai to participate in their first warm-up game against New Zealand on September 29. While many pundits who had initially favored Pakistan in the Asia Cup have now written off their chances of reaching the World Cup semi-finals, the unpredictable nature of Pakistan cricket makes it challenging to completely discount them.
If Pakistan can secure victories in their first two World Cup matches against Netherlands and Sri Lanka, they might start believing in their ability to upset India in a high-stakes encounter in Ahmedabad on October 14. However, it’s worth noting that Pakistan has never defeated India in a 50-over World Cup match.
The outcome of their World Cup campaign will largely hinge on the performance of their batting lineup. A successful batting display could serve as inspiration for their bowlers to put up a formidable fight against their arch-rivals.
As the World Cup approaches, cricket enthusiasts worldwide will keep a close watch on Pakistan’s journey, fully aware of the potential surprises and twists that their unpredictable team can deliver. Only time will reveal whether Pakistan can reverse the historical trend and make their mark in this prestigious tournament.
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By- Sahiba Suri