Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has outlined the standards Pakistan must meet to secure a win against arch-rival India in their upcoming T20 World Cup clash at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The match promises to add a new chapter to their historic cricketing rivalry in the ongoing marquee event.
India enters the game on a high, enjoying a purple patch of form, while Pakistan has struggled to find the right balance within their team. Their loss to the co-hosts USA in the tournament opener has drawn significant criticism from fans and former cricketers alike.
Akmal believes that if Pakistan wants to emerge triumphant, they need to excel in every department compared to their arch-rival. “In order to win against India, you need to be better than them, you have to make a better team than them and play better. But as of now, the confidence of the Pakistan team is low,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, will step into the stadium riding high on winning momentum, having secured a comprehensive 8-wicket victory against Ireland in their campaign opener in New York. In stark contrast, Pakistan has been struggling with form. They lost the opening match of their three-match T20I series against Ireland and were defeated 2-0 in the T20I series against England before the tournament began.
The loss to the USA further dampened their spirits just days before the highly-anticipated clash with India. Pakistan managed to crawl to 159/7 after Shaheen Afridi pulled off a couple of big hits at the end, but it was not enough to secure victory. As they prepare to face India, Pakistan will need to address their shortcomings and rise to the challenge to turn their fortunes around.
