Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle has predicted the winner of the much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India, scheduled on June 9.
Gayle handpicked India to win the match against Pakistan, considering the recent form of both teams. However, he also stated that anything can happen in a high-octane clash.
“India are in the driver’s seat, definitely a more relaxed seat. But this is India vs Pakistan at a World Cup, so you can take nothing for granted,” Chris Gayle told ICC.
“Their (Pakistan) backs are up against the wall and coming off a loss like that straight into playing a team like India, who traditionally have the upper hand in these games, is a huge challenge.”
The two-time T20 World Cup winner also expressed shock over USA’s upset victory over the Green Shirts.
“Like the rest of the cricketing world, I was gripped by the USA’s victory over Pakistan. It is a huge result which is not only incredible for them but massive for cricket as a whole.
“You always expect a few upsets at World Cups and having started well by beating Canada, USA put Pakistan under the pump for pretty much the whole game. I think it marks the day the World Cup really started.”
For the unversed, Pakistan and India will lock horns for the eighth time in a T20 World Cup when they square off at the newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 9.
Out of seven matches played thus far between the arch-rivals, India emerged victorious six times while Pakistan tasted triumph only once.
The two teams boast contrasting momentums as India eased past Ireland by eight wickets in the campaign opener while Pakistan succumbed to a humiliating defeat against the USA.
Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub.
India squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
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