"I will give a fair chance to this Pakistan team for winning the World Cup” : Waqar Younis

[MenInG]

One year on from their success at the ICC Champions Trophy last year, former Pakistan bowler Waqar Younis is giving his countrymen a ‘fair chance’ of winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Pakistan shocked the world at last year’s Champions Trophy in England and Wales, and enjoyed success at Lord’s in the first Test against England earlier this summer.

Waqar, who played at three World Cups - taking 22 wickets in the process - believes the side’s experience in English conditions will give them confidence ahead of next summer’s Cricket World Cup.

“Pakistan won the Champions Trophy last year, so they know how to play here, and they won the first test match at Lord’s also,” said Waqar.

“Look back at the Champions Trophy and the team is building the confidence. The faith is coming. I will give fair chance to this Pakistan team for winning the World Cup.”

It’s a World Cup that will no doubt see Pakistan well supported at every venue, given the number of Pakistan fans living in the UK, and Waqar is hopeful the players will embrace this added pressure and use it to their advantage.

“Pressure is going to be there,” he said. “Expectation comes from the entire country and there’s so many Pakistanis living in this country, so they’re going to travel around and there’ll be a lot of support for Pakistan. So there will be pressure, because supporters bring pressure with it, but they will enjoy it, hopefully, and do well.”

Pressure will also be on home side England, who are the number one side in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI team rankings.

Pakistan won the Champions Trophy last year, so they know how to play here Pakistan won the Champions Trophy last year, so they know how to play here

It was Pakistan who brought their Champions Trophy campaign to an end at the semi-final stage last year, and they’ll be hoping to make amends for their disappointment next summer.

“It’s always a pressure for the hosting side,” added Waqar. “The last couple of World Cups the host teams have won it, so that creates even more pressure.

“England know their game very well, they’re playing on their home ground but other teams are going to come prepared.

“I feel it’s going to be a good, hard-fought World Cup.”

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/724729

 

[Mainul]

Pakistan has really a good chance in 2019 until they play any of Hafeez,Shezad,Akmal,Rahat,Wahab,Anwar

 

[hadi123]

I think if people are giving us a chance to win, we will lose as we lose when we are expected to win and when we are expected to lose

 

[Arham_PakFan]

We have a decent chance as the tournament is in England.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I think we do have a chance to be successful but we would need to get rid of all the TTFs.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The format of this World Cup is such that you can lose 2 matches (and even have a no result or tie in a 3rd) and still be able to win the tournament if you peak at the right time. Given this format, and Pakistan’s brilliant bowling, of course they can win the World Cup.

 

[Syed1]

We never win anything when we go in as one of the 'favorites'

 

[babajee]

We never win anything when we go in as one of the 'favorites'

There is always a first for everything.

 

[cricketworm]

Pakistan need a serious match practice for chasing down big targets, unless they don't do that, still hard to win KO matches, unless they bat first of course.

 

[MMHS]

This is probably the most open WC since 1975 (when everyone was almost unknown), therefore PAK indeed has a good chance.

It’s about making the first cut, then 2 great days. With 10 teams, mathematically it’s possible to make SF with just 3 wins (and miss out even with 7 wins!!!), but I guess 5 wins should give a good chance, 6 should seal a spot. Minimum of 3 wins out of BD, AFG, SRL, WI and 2 wins out of other 5 games should work, unless the losses are too heavy to crash NRR. Looking at the fixtures and the usual tempo of PAK team in tournaments, it’s possible to end with 6 or even 7 wins - then it’s all about peaking at right time and keep focus.

Batting is still a suspect to be honest - batting depth has increased indeed, but still too much top order dependent, which is a bit hot & cold. As expected, free loading of MoHa & Malik has created a big hollow at 4 & 5; but not enough time left to establish Maqsood, Asif, Talat or a new kid at middle order. One advantage is that, due to long duration (& 9 confirmed games), batsmen will get enough time to acclimatize, but not sure if still PAK is ruthless enough to fix middle order batting in next 10 months.

Another disturbing observation is, PAK is still extremely scared of chasing - in every format. Unless forced, team won’t chase regardless of condition, which is a bit risky limitation - it didn’t help at Leeds, and Sarfraz opted to bat first both times against SCT. This has to be overcome - one can’t go to a WC stereotyping their plan - good way to start that could be to opt for chasing against ZIM in upcoming series and chase own targets (that’s, if ZIM crashes at 179, try to make it 180/3 in 29 overs instead of making it clinical but boring).

If these 3 issues are fixed - overall batting, batting order & chasing capacity - a little luck with it; why not? There is no outstanding team this time around - ok, there is one, born again England; I guess PAK can handle them in KOs.

 

[sunnyside]

Why not.. they are a good side with high confidence after winning CT2017. By 2019 they should be ready.

 

[happydavy]

So would I. In a round robin format with 10 teams means that there will be one team which will qualify to semis after winning 8 matches (england), one with 7 matches and there will be 2 teams with 6 victories each.

Factor in 2-3 surprises by Bangladesh and Afghanistan in their 18 matches and who knows a team with 5 victories and good runrate cud also qualify. Can Pakistan win 6 out of 9 matches, yes they can provided their bowler get a little dry pitches.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

We have a decent chance as the tournament is in England.

For some reason Pakistan becomes a top tier team when they go to England.