Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has made a bold claim about the Men in Green ahead of this year’s ICC World Cup in India.
The legendary batter believes that Pakistan has a good chance of winning the mega event due to their team combination.
“Our combination in white-ball cricket is really good. Our three batters are among top-ten ranked ICC ODI batters. Imad Wasim has made a comeback. Then, Shadab [Khan] and Mohammad Nawaz are really good. We have three top-class all-rounders, who are also good fielders," Yousuf told media in Lahore.
“I think we have a very good chance of winning the World Cup," he further added.
He also identified six pacers who could play a key role for Pakistan in the World Cup.
“In fast-bowling, we have Shaheen Shah [Afridi], Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Wasim [Jnr]. Then we have new pacers like Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan, so Pakistan has a lot of options in white-ball cricket,” he said.
It must be noted that Babar Azam-led unit’s participation in the World Cup is uncertain since India has refused to tour Pakistan for this year’s Asia Cup.
Earlier, the chairman of the PCB Management Committee, Najam Sethi, called for a rational approach to solve the looming crisis that threatens the successful hosting of the Asia Cup and the country's participation in the ODI World Cup this year.
Talking to the media on the occasion of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting, Sethi said the Pakistan team’s chances of traveling to India for the ODI World Cup are low.
“In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup, chances are there that the Pakistan government would not allow the Men in Green to cross the borders for their World Cup participation. In that case, cricket will be the ultimate sufferer,” Sethi said.
“There should be a middle way to solve problems that surely threaten the smooth hosting of ICC and ACC events. In case of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the government will not allow us to travel to India to figure in the World Cup matches,” he added.