(Credit ICC)
While Babar Azam holds the distinction of being the sole Pakistan captain to secure a victory against India on the biggest stage, the influential leader of the Pakistani team acknowledges that he has more milestones to achieve. Recently reinstated as the captain of the national side, Babar will lead his team in their T20 World Cup opener against co-hosts United States on Thursday. Following their encounter with the USA, Pakistan, the former champions, will prepare for their highly anticipated showdown against arch-rivals Team India.
The marquee matchup between longstanding rivals India and Pakistan is set to take center stage in Group A of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and the West Indies. India has already begun their campaign with a victory over Ireland in New York, while Babar’s Pakistan team is gearing up to face the United States in their opening match in Dallas. Looking ahead to the highly anticipated clash, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif expressed his belief that Babar will face significant pressure when his side takes on India in the T20 World Cup.
According to Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan skipper, Babar will face immense pressure primarily due to the upcoming match against India on June 9, rather than the overall performance in the T20 World Cup. Latif believes that Babar can gain valuable insights from the leadership styles of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who excel in handling pressure situations. While acknowledging Babar’s exceptional batting skills, Latif emphasizes the importance for him to enhance his capabilities as a captain and leader.
India and Pakistan crossed paths twice during the 2007 edition of the tournament. However, they didn’t meet in the 2009 and 2010 editions. The rivalry resumed after the 2007 final, with matches held in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2022. According to the former Pakistan skipper, India holds the upper hand as favorites to defeat Babar’s team in the T20 World Cup. Latif singled out spinner Kuldeep Yadav as India’s key bowler for the tournament. Nevertheless, Kuldeep was surprisingly left out of the Indian lineup for the Ireland encounter on Wednesday.
“Kuldeep Yadav is that one player who if remains fit for India throughout the World Cup, he can cause trouble for batters. He is India’s key bowler and also a key to success. Given the current form and stats definitely India has an advantage ahead of June 9. The Pakistan team plays well in the ICC tournaments but the team doesn’t look as prepared as they were in 2021 and 2022. The damage happened after the last ODI World Cup with changes in captaincy, the selection committee, and players,” he concluded.
