Former Pakistan captain and head coach Misbah-Ul-Haq named his top two teams for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to run from June 1 to 29 in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies.
The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup will commence at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas with the co-host USA taking on neighbours Canada in the curtain-raiser later today.
Meanwhile, legendary batter Misbah, who was part of the Pakistan side that won the prestigious title in 2009, termed Australia as the hot favourites to win the upcoming mega event, highlighting how they excelled in the Asian conditions in last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup with just one spinner at their arsenal.
“The safest bet I think would be Australia. They know how to win. Whatever may be the condition. They come to Asia and win by playing with just one spinner. You can’t write off Australia from any World Cup,” Misbah said on Star Sports.
“The second team is very difficult. But we have to live in Pakistan, so I’m backing them as the top second team,” he added.
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Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, Ireland, Canada and co-host USA.
The Green Shirts will start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the USA on June 6 before taking on arch-rivals India in a blockbuster clash on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
The 2009 champions will then take on Canada on June 11 before locking horns with Ireland in their last group-stage fixture on June 16.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad
Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup schedule
June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas
June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York
June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York
June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill
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