ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan Have A Great Chance Of Beating India In India - Aaqib Javed

Former Pakistan cricketer Aaqib Javed has backed Pakistan to defeat India in the ICC World Cup 2023. He feels that the Babar Azam-led side is balanced and their age graph is better than the arch-rivals. 

India and Pakistan will be up against each other in the ICC World Cup 2023 on 14th November at the Narendra Modi International Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Men in Green are yet to defeat their arch-rivals in the ODI World Cup but since the last few years, they have been giving tough competition. 

Pakistan defeated India for the first time in World Cup when they thumped the opposition by 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2021 and they would be hoping to end the jinx in the ODIs as well. They also beat the Men in Blue in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017. 

With the kind of balanced and capability they have in the squad and also with the Indian team struggling, it’s fair to say that Pakistan will be the favorites going into the clash against India in the ICC World Cup 2023. 

Aaqib Javed also feels the same, according to him India have big names but they are out of form. He believes that India will struggle and they need to find new players. Speaking to reporters, he explained (via CricWick): 

“I think the Pakistan side is balanced and the age graph of players is much better, India are on that stage where they have big names but their fitness and form is not up to the mark. They will struggle and might have to find new players to form a combination. I think Pakistan have a great chance of beating India in India.” 

ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan Squad for the Asia Cup 

Before the ICC World Cup 2023, India and Pakistan will face each other in the Asia Cup 2023. The two arch-rivals will be up against each other on 2nd September at Kandy and there are high chances that they will play against each other in the Super 4 stage as well. If they perform well, we might see them facing each other in the final as well. 

With Asia Cup 2023, which is set to begin on 30th August, Pakistan have named their squad for the tournament. It’s fair to say that the majority of the players from this team will be traveling to India as well for the World Cup. 

Here’s the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup 2023: 

Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim.