As the cricketing world braces for the electrifying India-Pakistan T20 World Cup encounter on June 9, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has sounded a warning about the explosive potential of Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman.
Speaking on Star Sports, Kaif dissected Pakistan’s lineup, pointing out key players and emphasizing the strength of their bowling attack.
Despite describing Pakistan’s batting as generally weak, Mohammad Kaif singled out Fakhar Zaman as a potential match-winner.
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“Fakhar plays a little fast, and if he fires, he can probably win the match alone,” Kaif remarked, acknowledging Zaman’s capability to turn the game on its head with his aggressive batting style.
Fakhar Zaman bhai , We need Oval 2017 innings Against India 🇮🇳 on 9th June in New York#WorldCup #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/yyE0Xp6Mvv
— Fourth Umpire (@UmpireFourth) June 4, 2024
He also mentioned Iftikhar Ahmed as another quick hitter in the Pakistani squad.
Kaif’s analysis comes as both teams prepare for their high-stakes match at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
He noted that apart from Fakhar and Iftikhar, the rest of the Pakistani batsmen tend to play at a lower strike rate, typically around 120 to 125, which could be a strategic advantage for India.
However, Kaif was quick to highlight the formidable Pakistani bowling lineup, particularly praising Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
“Naseem Shah’s fitness and the bouncy pitch in New York will make him a significant threat,” Kaif said, recalling Naseem’s impactful spell against India in the T20 World Cup 2022, despite an unfortunate dropped catch.
Kaif also reminisced about Naseem’s absence from the ODI World Cup in India due to injury, but stressed that his return bolsters Pakistan’s chances.
“Their bowling attack is something to be feared,” he added, underscoring the challenge awaiting the Indian batsmen.
Historically, India has dominated T20 World Cup encounters against Pakistan, winning five out of seven matches, with one match resulting in a tie that India won via a bowl out.
Pakistan’s only T20 World Cup victory against India came in 2021 under Babar Azam’s captaincy.
