10 Teams, one Cup
The cricket world’s biggest gala, the ICC World Cup is all set for action from today. With India single-handedly hosting the 13th edition of the World Cup, the opening game is scheduled at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium between England and New Zealand — respectively the defending champion and the defeated finalist of the previous competition. The tournament’s format this time is unique — and the toughest as well — in the sense that the teams have not been divided into groups and each team will have to play all other contestants after which the top four will qualify for the semi-finals. The 1992 edition of the World Cup — the only one triumphed by Pakistan — had a similar format, but the number of teams then were nine, as against 10 this time.
Even though Pakistan enter the tournament as top-ranked team, it is England, Australia, New Zealand and host India that are labeled among the hot favourites to lift the coveted cup. Team Pakistan’s build-up to the World Cup is marred by form and fitness problems. The Babar Azam men suffered humiliation in Asia Cup played last month. They were first blown away by India in a Super Four game, losing by a record 228-run margin and then failed to overcome Sri Lanka to qualify for the final which was eventually won by India. And just before the World Cup squad was to be announced, the news that the sparkling pacer Nasim Shah had been ruled out of the tournament was like a bolt from the blue. Together with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, Shah formed one of the most fearsome pace trio in the world cricket. In the batting, there is a question mark on the form of flamboyant Fakhar Zaman. Also newcomers Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel have yet to prove themselves. A quality all-rounder — like India have in Hardik Pandya — is also direly missing. Still Pakistan have the players with potential to turn things on their head, specially their pace attack. Let’s back up our boys as they start their quest for the Cup against the Netherlands on Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2023.
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