Former India cricketer turned renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Pakistan has emerged as a formidable team in their first two matches of the T20 World Cup 2021. He further praised the players who have stepped up on these two occasions as well.
Pakistan started with a 10-wicket thumping win over India and then they defeated New Zealand by five wickets in their second Super 12 encounter of the T20 World Cup as well. With this, they have moved to the top of Group 2 also. While reviewing the match in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that they are looking like a well-rounded unit as well.
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He reasoned: “This team is looking as good as gold. In the first match, it was Shaheen Shah Afridi with the ball, and with the bat, it was Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. When the second match came in Sharjah against New Zealand – Haris Rauf comes with the ball, Asif Ali and Shoaib Malik with the bat.”
He continued: “Of course, Rizwan also contributed but the truth is that Pakistan has won two out of two encounters, they have got six different heroes in two encounters. They have defeated New Zealand and India, it means a semi-final spot is confirmed even if they play to 80% of their potential.”
However, Pakistan will now face Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland in the rest of the Super 12 fixtures. And, they are likely to win across all three sides and finish at the top of Group 2 as well. While praising Haris Rauf’s performance against New Zealand, Aakash Chopra said that Pakistan have a brilliant seam attack.
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He explained: “Harif Rauf was absolutely sensational, the way he bowled on a pitch that did not have that much help for the fast bowlers. The ball is hitting the bat at pace, 145 clicks. Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi also bowl fast. Pakistan’s pace-bowling factory is back on track.”
“When the team was stuck Shoaib Malik came and said that the price of almonds does not fall because of new peanuts coming into the market. Asif Ali was there along with him, Asif’s hitting was actually the game-changing moment,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
