T20 World Cup: India vs Pakistan final good for cricket, says Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his desire for India to reach the T20 World Cup final and face Pakistan in the title match. Speaking on his YouTube channel following India’s comprehensive eight-wicket win over Scotland in a Super 12 match on Friday, Akhtar stated that reaching the World Cup final would “make the World Cup bigger.” While India’s chances of reaching the semifinals are contingent on Afghanistan defeating New Zealand in their Super 12 match on Sunday, Akhtar stated that his “heart’s wish” is for India to reach the final and for Pakistan to win.

“Many people are saying that New Zealand should (beat Afghanistan to) knock India out of the tournament. I cannot speak on behalf of New Zealand. I only hope that Pakistan top the (Group 2) chart. We shouldn’t worry about the rest of the outcomes,” Akhtar said.

“If you beat Scotland, you top the group. You shouldn’t worry about which team you could play against. Yes, I do have a wish, as I had said earlier, that why play just one match against India? Why not play the final? And a final (between India and Pakistan) is possible. In my opinion, India have a fair amount of chance. It now depends on whether Afghanistan can bring India back (in semi-final reckoning or not),” he added.

The two arch-rivals facing off in the final would make for good cricket, according to the Pakistani bowling legend. “Entire India will be backing Afghanistan (on Sunday). We will back a good game of cricket. It’s an interesting situation. My heart’s wish is that India reach the final against us and that we beat them. It will be good for cricket if India play the final against Pakistan. This is going to make the World Cup bigger,”Akhtar concluded.

PAKISTAN’S FIRST WORLD CUP WIN OVER INDIA

Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam stitched a fine unbeaten partnership to help their nation record a historic win against arch-rivals India. Rizwan and Azam combined to record the highest opening partnership by any team against Team India in the history of T20Is. The duo stitched a fine stand of 152 runs to help Pakistan emerge victorious by a margin of 10 wickets, in their Super 12 Group 2 encounter of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 against India. The former recorded their maiden win in T20 and ODI World Cup clashes against the latter, making it all the more significant. India were unbeaten in 12 ICC T20 and ODI World Cup encounters going into the match, but the run has certainly ended.

Rizwan and Azam further helped Pakistan record a triumph by a margin of 10 wickets in T20Is for the first time, scoring fine half-centuries. The former accumulated 79 runs from 55 deliveries in an innings comprising six boundaries and three sixes. Azam smashed 68 runs from 52 balls in a knock that included six fours and two maximums. None of the Indian bowlers managed to make much of an impact.