Pakistan favorites for World Twenty20 - Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram has tipped Pakistan to win next month's World Twenty20 in England. Pakistan have lost just three of their 17 Twenty20 internationals and convincingly beat Australia by seven wickets in Dubai earlier this month.

"Pakistan has the best winning ratio of all the teams in the Twenty20 cricket, so if they continue to keep that consistency it won't be difficult to win," Akram told AFP. "I thought Australia would thrash them in the one-off T20 match in Dubai but it was the other way round and now, if Pakistan play to their potential, they can win the title."

In the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 Pakistan had finished as runners-up, going down by five runs to India in the final. For next month's tournament, they are grouped with hosts England and the Netherlands in the initial league phase.

Akram rated Pakistan's bowling as their strongest suit, and said the batting was the only thing that could let them down. "With Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Shoaib Akhtar, if he is fit and going with the team, Pakistan has the best bowling attack backed by quality spin of Shahid Afridi," he said. "I am also impressed with the talent of Mohammad Aamer who is nippy and can swing the ball both ways. He could be a revelation in the event."

Pakistan's government had barred its country's players from participating in the IPL, a factor that Akram thinks will work in Pakistan's favour. "I think Pakistan has played less cricket and will be fresh, while Indian players could be fatigued after playing in the IPL."

early english conditions could go against the sub-con teams. i tip the saffies to win. good practice in the ipl and some good t20 players

unless they come down with a case of world-cup-itis again of course. at least it will be fun

The One wrote:early english conditions could go against the sub-con teams. i tip the saffies to win. good practice in the ipl and some good t20 players

Why are so many people picking SA to win?

I would think that AUS have a better chance than them but then again i haven't followed much cricket lately.

The One wrote:early english conditions could go against the sub-con teams. i tip the saffies to win. good practice in the ipl and some good t20 players

June isn't really early and the forecast is for a good summer so that may benefit the sub-con teams anyway.

Pakistan too mentally weak to win anything big.

India all the way, they are brilliant.

PlanetPakistan wrote:Pakistan too mentally weak to win anything big.

India all the way, they are brilliant.

plus they don't have the players

17 year olds will most likely open both the bowling AND the batting...can't expect too much from them

Tanvir, Arafat and Butt are average.

Pffft. England will surprise you all and whoop your arses back to where they came from. T20 kings that we are....

actually the 1st game is against England...

Who are the fast bowlers to watch out for from England?

PlanetPakistan wrote:actually the 1st game is against England...

Who are the fast bowlers to watch out for from England?

Ravi Bopara

Dunno? Broad, Anderson? Sidebum? Swann?

No Flintoff.

I was being sarcastic of course, though I quite like the look of the squad they picked.

DJ_Smerk wrote:

PlanetPakistan wrote:actually the 1st game is against England...

Who are the fast bowlers to watch out for from England?

Ravi Bopara

Graham Napier is going to own the world....

5-21 June.... at least it'll all be over in 2 weeks.

JKLever wrote:5-21 June.... at least it'll all be over in 2 weeks.

If only Lalit Modi's Flying Circus could be over in 2 weeks.

DJ_Smerk wrote:

PlanetPakistan wrote:actually the 1st game is against England...

Who are the fast bowlers to watch out for from England?

Ravi Bopara

England can't lose with the Super-Essex trio of Foster,Napier & Bops.

Should have Davey Masters in there too

yes England will win it by an innings

I think Windies will do quite well in this tournament even though our current Test form is terrible.

We will have had plenty of practice in English conditions by the time the tournament starts. Last time that occurred we won the Champions Trophy in 2004.

Our 20-20 team itself is pretty good as well with the Worlds biggest hitter in Gayle, one of the premier 20/20 all rounders in Bravo and two pacers with excellent 20-20 records in Taylor and Edwards. Sarwan and Shiv are decent without being fabulous at 20-20, Pollard is a massive hitter of the cricket ball and we have lots of decent bits and pieces cricketers like Bernard Jr and Darren Sammy who wont let anybody down in that format.

For some reason we field like demons in 20/20 cricket too. Probably due to the ridiculously short attention span of the modern West Indian.

Admittedly we are in the same group as Australia and Sri Lanka which could be a problem (fuggin ridiculous seeding system based on the last World Cup and not the matches since ). But in 2006 ICCCT we were place in the same group as England and Australia and got through comfortably and went on to reach the final.

PlanetPakistan wrote:yes England will win it by an innings

We'll find a way...

Just seen the opening fixture of this is England v Holland Glamourous opener...

Ryan Ten Dustcart is going to smash us...

WIFAN wrote:I think Windies will do quite well in this tournament even though our current Test form is terrible.

We will have had plenty of practice in English conditions by the time the tournament starts. Last time that occurred we won the Champions Trophy in 2004.

Our 20-20 team itself is pretty good as well with the Worlds biggest hitter in Gayle, one of the premier 20/20 all rounders in Bravo and two pacers with excellent 20-20 records in Taylor and Edwards. Sarwan and Shiv are decent without being fabulous at 20-20, Pollard is a massive hitter of the cricket ball and we have lots of decent bits and pieces cricketers like Bernard Jr and Darren Sammy who wont let anybody down in that format.

For some reason we field like demons in 20/20 cricket too. Probably due to the ridiculously short attention span of the modern West Indian.

Yeah, the Sky comms touted the WI as an outside bet too

WIFAN wrote:I think Windies will do quite well in this tournament even though our current Test form is terrible.

We will have had plenty of practice in English conditions by the time the tournament starts. Last time that occurred we won the Champions Trophy in 2004.

Our 20-20 team itself is pretty good as well with the Worlds biggest hitter in Gayle, one of the premier 20/20 all rounders in Bravo and two pacers with excellent 20-20 records in Taylor and Edwards. Sarwan and Shiv are decent without being fabulous at 20-20, Pollard is a massive hitter of the cricket ball and we have lots of decent bits and pieces cricketers like Bernard Jr and Darren Sammy who wont let anybody down in that format.

For some reason we field like demons in 20/20 cricket too. Probably due to the ridiculously short attention span of the modern West Indian.

Admittedly we are in the same group as Australia and Sri Lanka which could be a problem (fuggin ridiculous seeding system based on the last World Cup and not the matches since ). But in 2006 ICCCT we were place in the same group as England and Australia and got through comfortably and went on to reach the final.

WI will manage to screw up


Would like to see AUS knocked out in the 1st round but i am afraid it will be WI :|

just seen the schedule as well

Fri 12
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT 16th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A1 v C1

the first real match for us v/s aus or lanka. unless the bangles do another 2007

C1 means AUS(even if they finish second)

really? like the last world cup? makes sense i guess, allows fans to plan their trip

unless your team screws up by losing to the bangles and the match you were dying to see ends up being ireland vs the bangles

JKLever wrote:5-21 June.... at least it'll all be over in 2 weeks.

Yeah but there are warm-up matches before it starts. I'm going to the India vs Pakistan one at The Oval on the 3rd.