Former Indian player Mohammad Kaif stated that Pakistan’s batting lineup is weak as apart from one to two players, others play at a strike rate of 120 to 125.
He made this statement ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 game between Pakistan and India on June 9 at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Kaif argued that in Pakistan’s batting, Fakhar Zaman plays aggressive cricket and can win the match on his day. He also named middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed as a quick batter but didn’t name anyone else.
"Everyone knows Pakistan's batting is weak. Fakhar Zaman plays a little fast. If he fires, he can probably win the match alone. Iftikhar Ahmad plays fast but other than that, everyone plays at a strike rate of 120 to 125. You are not that scared of their batting but are scared of their bowling," Kaif told Star Sports.
The former Indian batter then praised Pakistan’s bowling attack while emphasising Naseem Shah remembering his spell against India in 2022 T20 World Cup.
"They will have Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Naseem Shah didn't come to play in the World Cup in India. He was injured, but he is fit here. This will be a bouncy pitch. Naseem Shah is a very good bowler. If you talk about the Melbourne match that Virat Kohli won, if you see Naseem Shah's first spell, he got a nick and the catch was dropped at slip," Kaif added.
It must be noted India and Pakistan have met seven times in T20 World Cups where India has won five matches while Pakistan has won only one. The remaining T20I resulted in a tie with India winning via bowl out.
The only T20I Pakistan has won against India in the T20 World Cup was back in 2021 when Babar Azam’s men played against Virat Kohli’s men.
