World Cup 2023: As long as Pakistan play according to plan, they will have a chance, says Wasim Akram

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram believes that Babar Azam-led side has the potential to make a strong impact in the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India.

As a member of the victorious 1992 World Cup squad, Akram sees similarities between the current Pakistan team and the championship-winning side. He believes that Pakistan’s chances of securing their second title largely depend on the fitness and form of their key players.

Pakistan boast a talented lineup including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Fakhar Zaman. Additionally, the team possesses a formidable pace attack featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. Akram believes that these factors position Pakistan as one of the favourites for the tournament, especially considering the playing conditions in India, which are similar to those in the sub-continent.

“We have a good side… a very good one-day side and are led by one of the modern-day greats in Babar Azam,” Wasim told the ICC. “As long as they are fit and as long as they play according to the plan, they will have a chance of doing well in that World Cup because it is played in our type of conditions in India on the sub-continent.”

During the previous World Cup in 2019, Pakistan won five out of their nine matches but narrowly missed out on a semi-final berth due to an inferior net run rate. However, the team has shown remarkable form since then, losing only nine 50-over matches and currently holding the second position in the ODI team rankings.

Babar has been a standout performer for Pakistan, displaying consistency and amassing eight centuries since the 2019 tournament. Akram, an admirer of Babar’s skills, anticipates even greater performances from the inspirational skipper during the World Cup. Akram praises Babar’s ability to draw crowds to stadiums across all formats of the game, emphasising his influence and the elegance of his cover drive.

“I think he (Babar) can (get better) as he is the best player we have,” Wasim said. “The whole country follows him, everything he does. He gets people into the stadium and it doesn’t matter whether it is T20, one-dayers or Test cricket and, in my opinion, he has the most beautiful cover drive in the world.”

Pakistan will begin their World Cup 2023 campaign against a qualifying side on October 6 in Hyderabad.