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Shoaib Akhtar: (Image Source: Twitter)
Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar feels that it will not be a smooth sailing for Pakistan this time around in the WT20I clash against India, that is scheduled to take place down under later this year in October. Pakistan and India locked horns with each other last in the 20-20 World Cup 2021 encounter, which the former won by 10 wickets.
Pakistan’s 10-wicket win over India in the 20-20 World Cup 2021 was a historic one because they had never defeated the Men in blue at a 20-over global event, and that win marked a first. The two teams are yet again in the same group and will square off against each other on October 23, Sunday, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“India will come up with proper planning this time around. It will not be easy for Pakistan to beat India in T20 WC this time,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan. Akhtar feels that India will be much better prepared this time around and that they would have learnt from the previous world cup clash that took place against Pakistan.
He also advised Pakistan to bowl second since the Melbourne pitch will be more favorable to their fast bowlers. “Predicting match results now is quite difficult but Pakistan should bowl second as
The India-Pakistan rivalry is watched by every cricket fan in the world and is also eagerly anticipated by the fans of the two nations, apart from others. Mouth watering clashes have been witnessed when the two neighboring countries have clashed before, and Akhtar feels that the MCG would be filled with a packed house this time around.
“I believe the crowd will be bigger this time. Around 1,50,000 fans will watch the match line in Melbourne. Out of which, 70,000 will be Indian supporters,” he said. Pakistan’s next stint in the International arena will be their two-match Test series against hosts Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to begin on July 16.