The ICC has released the final schedule of the ODI World Cup to be held in India this year. Reactions are coming from all over the world regarding the World Cup schedule. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet released any official statement on this. According to media reports, PCB's arrival in India is still not considered fixed. On the other hand, former cricketers of Pakistan are also giving their reactions to this schedule. Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has also targeted his board's demand for a change of venue and said that the ICC did well by not accepting the demand. At the same time, great bowler Wasim Akram has also reacted to the schedule.
Akmal was targeted for demanding a change of venue
Akmal said on his YouTube channel – the Indian and Pakistan teams will clash with each other on October 15 in Ahmedabad. Everyone knows that India and Pakistan will suffer the most from the conditions that will prevail during the World Cup. Both these teams should also take advantage of this. As I read in the media, PCB was also demanding ICC change the venue for matches against Afghanistan and Australia. Along with this, there was a demand to change the venue regarding the match against India. However, the ICC rejected the request, which is a good thing. If PCB had demanded, it should not have been done.
'Stupid to ask ICC to change venue'
Akmal said – This is an ICC event. We should play matches wherever they decide. If the ICC would have accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board's advice now, then tomorrow any team would demand to change their venue in any other ICC event. In such a situation, it will not remain an ICC event, nor will it be fun. We should play wherever we get matches. Also, PCB should not have made such a demand. I would consider it stupid. Along with this, Akmal also expressed some displeasure about the schedule. He said that Pakistan's opening two matches are against qualifier teams. One of these matches should have been kept against a strong team.
Akmal suggested some changes in the schedule
Akmal said- Out of the two matches Pakistan has kept against the qualifier teams, one match should have been kept against New Zealand or Australia. By playing such pressure matches, the confidence of the Pakistani players would have been instilled and they would have been well prepared. Just like India's first match has been kept against Australia, similarly, Pakistan should have been given one or two matches so that preparation would have been done. Regarding the India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad on October 15, Akmal said – there will be a tense atmosphere when the two teams clash in the world's largest stadium with about one lakh 30 thousand spectators. Both teams will come with full preparation. Everyone knows the hype of this match. This whole tournament will depend on this match. If there was a place for two lakh people in the stadium for this match, it would have been full.
Wasim Akram praised the Pakistan team
On the other hand, former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram believes that his team has enough qualities to be the main team in this year's World Cup. Wasim was part of the Pakistani team that won the World Cup in 1992. The legendary fast bowler feels that if key players of Pakistan stay fit and in form, the team can win another trophy. Pakistan is led by the number one ranked batsman in ODIs, Babar Azam, and has some good players in the squad.
Due to similar conditions, along with India, Pakistan is also among the strong contenders to win the World Cup title this year. The team has some great batsmen like Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Fakhar Zaman. At the same time, there is also a lethal pace attack in the form of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. In such a situation, Wasim Akram is hopeful that the conditions will be in Pakistan's favor during the tournament.
'Great Pakistan team, play according to plan'
Wasim Akram told the ICC, "We have a very good ODI team and it is being led by Babar Azam, one of the greatest players of all time. As long as Pakistan's key players are fit and as long as they play according to plan, they will have a chance to do well in this World Cup. This tournament is in India where the conditions will be similar to ours. Pakistan won five out of nine matches in the 2019 World Cup in the round-robin format. However, the team played poorly. Missed the semi-finals due to the net run rate.
Since that tournament, the Pakistan team has been in excellent form. Currently, Pakistan is in the second position in the ODI team rankings. Babar's form has also been excellent since that World Cup. The right-handed batsman has scored eight centuries since the 2019 tournament and remains at the number one position in the rankings for ODI batsmen. Wasim is a big fan of Babar's batting and it will not be surprising to see him play some scintillating innings in the World Cup.
'Babar's cover drive is the best in the world
Wasim said, "I think Babar can be better because he is our best player. Whatever he does, the whole country follows him. He makes people come to the stadium with his batting and It doesn't matter which format, be it T20, ODI, or Test cricket, he has the most beautiful cover drive in the world in my opinion.
(pc amarujala)
