Ace Pakistani Legend Shoaib Akhtar, also called the “Rawalpindi Express”, has put forth his views on the upcoming Indo-Pak clash in Melbourne during the T20 World Cup in Australia. The old rivals and neighbors are set to face off each other in a legendary battle on 23rd October 2022 in the famous MCG.
The last time the two teams faced each other was in 2021 when the teams had locked horns in Dubai. Pakistan had comfortably won the game with ten wickets, making it the first time in the history of World Cups that they had defeated India. The Indian team lost the next game to New Zealand, hence failing to qualify for the semis, while Pakistan lost to defending champions Australia in the semis.
Shoaib Akhtar though, believes that this time victory won’t be as easy for Pakistan. According to him, Pakistan will be under pressure here because the 1,00,000-seater MCG will have Indian fans pouring in from every corner, and it’s always difficult to win with thousands of people hoping for you to lose. He also added that the wicket in MCG is generally active during the night-time, making it more prudent for Pakistan to bowl second.
In conclusion, he also pointed out that this time the selectors will make sure they avoid all mistakes and pick out the best team for their side, defining each role clearly. He believes the teams are evenly balanced as of now, which is why this game will be totally unpredictable.
The Pakistan team will be led by their best batsman Babar Azam, while the Indian skipper will be the newly appointed Rohit Sharma. A lot of new talent has been seen for side India in the IPL, and they’ve been called for national duty in the upcoming home series against SA. This is the perfect chance for the selectors to form a team suited to all needs.
