The 2017 Champions Trophy winners are now being labelled favourites for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup as the world expects them to stun fans once again…
The Pakistan cricket team’s remarkable comeback in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 has brought them to the forefront. A side that was ranked 8th before the tournament began stunned the critics by bagging the trophy – and since then, nobody dares undermine their ability to turn a game or series around. With the ICC Cricket World Cup set to take place next year, Pakistan are now being labelled as favourites.
We all remember how Ramiz Raja predicted a Pakistan vs. India final and Pakistan’s victory prior to the ICC Champions Trophy. This time, it’s Nasser Hussain who has picked his favourite. In a recent India vs. England series, a commentator predicted seeing the two sides playing the 2019 World Cup final. But Hussain had some other ideas. “Watch Pakistan sneak in and win the World Cup,” was his reply. Pakistan has clearly developed a reputation for ghosting in and winning in the most unexpected manner possible.
Co-commentator during the recent England versus India ODI "we could see these two teams playing the World Cup final next year."
To which Nasser Hussain replied "watch Pakistan sneak in and win the World Cup."#Cricket— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) July 15, 2018
Mohammad Yousuf, the former Pakistani cricketer, and Fakhar Zaman, the current stalwart opener in the team, have also declared Pakistan as their favourite for the trophy. Yousuf believes Pakistan’s bowling attack will help them emerge victorious. Zaman, on the other hand, cited Pakistan’s excellent performance in the past few series as the reason for labelling his team as favourites. He believes the team is well-equipped for the tournament and recent results prove that.
But can Pakistan really be called the favourites to bag the trophy? Yes, I think so. The team’s current combination is arguably the best it’s had in the last few years, with a blend of both experience and young blood. Seasoned veterans like Shoaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed both have experience to bring to the table. After their first embarrassing loss in the Champions Trophy, it was Malik’s motivation and support that brought the team back on track. The young blood, namely Hassan Ali, Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman have some promising talent to offer. Each of the aforementioned players have also been extremely consistent in the last few series.
Words from Fakhar Zaman about the winning the title #CWC19#Cricket pic.twitter.com/siMcvCEcjD
— #CrickeTweets!🏏 (@asadjaved609) August 25, 2018
Moreover, the coach and captain seem to possess just the kind of aggression and leadership skills needed to guide this team. Since Micky Arthur took over as the team’s coach, we have seen the side improve their fitness and their overall game. Their fielding, which has historically been their weakest point, has also improved a great deal. Most importantly, the team seems to be getting along with each other well and this has definitely had a positive impact on their performance.
Conditions seem to be in favour of the Pakistan team but only time will tell if they’ll be able to capitalize on them. As much as the idea of Pakistan being crowned winners of ICC’s biggest tournament, in line with the predictions, would please the country’s supporters, we must not forget the one thing Pakistan team is best at – being unpredictable.