Former India cricketer turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has shared his predictions for tonight’s T20 World Cup 2021 match between Pakistan and New Zealand. While Pakistan will go with huge confidence after registering a thumping 10-wicket win against India, New Zealand is ready to open its account in the global event.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra has predicted that Pakistan pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi will take wickets.
He observed: “Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi will together take 4 or more wickets. I was taking Haris Rauf lightly but he is a decent bowler. He bowls at pace and his slower one is very deceptive. The length at which he bowls will be perfect for Sharjah.”
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He also said that Lockie Ferguson’s experience of playing in the UAE in the second leg of IPL 2021 will help him in this event as well. He did well while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021.
Aakash Chopra predicted: “Lockie Ferguson can take 2 or more wickets. He has bowled decently well here, he has played IPL encounters for Kolkata. I think he will be fine.”
He also stated that the trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman will do well with the bat for Pakistan. However, after the convincing win, Pakistan will have the upperhand in the game. Moreover, the familiar UAE conditions and the usually low and slow surface of Sharjah will also help them in the game.
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“Babar, Rizwan and Zaman – their top three – will make more than 90 runs. And I feel they will have to do that as well if you have to go ahead because you have to do a lot better in the powerplay overs than the last four or five overs. I am just going with Pakistan to win. New Zealand will have to play much above their potential to trouble Pakistan. The scales are tilted heavily towards Pakistan,” Aakash Chopra concluded.