ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Aakash Chopra Feels Australia Stuck In The Pool Of Death; Calls Them A Fantastic Team Only On Paper

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra is not very positive about Australia’s future in the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian commentator feels that the Aaron Finch-led side is stuck in a challenging pool in the super 12 stage of the tournament. Chopra also feels that Australia is a good team only on paper.

Australia is part of group 1 in the Super 12 stage of ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Along with Australia, West Indies, England, and South Africa are the other three teams part of their pool. Two teams from the qualifier’s round will also join the pool later. West Indies are the defending champions of the tournament and currently have a very strong side in the T20I format. England too are among the strongest teams in the shortest format of the game.

On Paper, Australia Looks Like A Fantastic Team For ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Aakash Chopra

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that the story of Australia is that all five fingers come together but do not become a fist.

“On paper, this looks a fantastic team. But their story is that all five fingers come together but do not become a fist. While this looks like a very good team on paper, I am not very very excited about their prospects. Firstly the pool they are in, I feel they are going to get slightly stuck. That’s the pool of death, ours is not.” Chopra said in the video.

The 43-year-old cricket expert also pointed out Australia’s weakness in the spin department, which can haunt them during ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

“The bowling is looking extremely good but they are slightly short in the spin department. And also remember that the World Cup is going to happen after the IPL. When those things remain in the mind, Australia becomes a decent team, not a great team because the spin reserves – Swepson, Zampa, Agar – not the greatest, let’s admit that. There could be some problems while playing against spin in the batting department as well,” Chopra further said.

Australia will begin its ICC T20 World Cup 2021 journey with a game against South Africa on October 23. Australia has faced losses in their five previous T20I series against England, India, New Zealand, West Indies, and Bangladesh. Australia recently revealed their squad for the ICC tournament. Aaron Finch is going to lead the team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with Patt Cummins as the vice-captain.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 commences on October 17, 2021, in UAE and Oman with the qualifiers round. India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are part of group 2 in the super 12 round, who will be joined by two more teams from the group stage. The tournament will be conducted just after the conclusion of IPL 2021 at the same venue UAE.