Pakistan can make mark at this year’s World Cup, says Wasim Akram

Lahore: Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram is confident in his former team's potential to make a mark at this year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Akram, who played a vital role in Pakistan's victorious 1992 World Cup campaign at the MCG, believes that if their key players stay fit and perform consistently, a second trophy could be within reach.

He was of the view that Pakistan, led by top-ranked ODI batter Babar Azam, boasted a talented lineup with a wealth of experience.

The team's batting strength lies in the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Fakhar Zaman. Additionally, Pakistan possesses a formidable pace attack comprising Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah.

With all the necessary ingredients in place, Pakistan is considered one of the favorites to clinch the World Cup title. Wasim Akram also expects the tournament's conditions in India, particularly on the sub-continent, to favor his former side. He expressed his confidence in Pakistan's abilities, stating, "We have a good side...a very good one-day side and are led by one of the modern-day greats in Babar Azam."

In the previous edition of the 50-over World Cup, Pakistan won five out of their nine matches but missed out on a semi-final spot due to an inferior net run rate. However, since then, their performance has been commendable, having lost only nine ODIs and currently holding the second position in the ODI team rankings.

Babar Azam, in particular, has been a consistent performer, scoring eight of his 18 ODI centuries since the 2019 tournament. He continues to dominate the ODI batter rankings. Wasim Akram, an ardent admirer of Babar's talent, believes that the inspirational Pakistan captain has the potential to elevate his game further during the World Cup. According to Akram, "He is the best player we have... He gets people into the stadium, and in my opinion, he has the most beautiful cover drive in the world."

With Wasim Akram's optimism and the talented squad at their disposal, Pakistan aims to replicate their past success and bring home the World Cup trophy once again.