Pakistan Is In With A Good Chance For The T20 World Cup: Salman Butt

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has weighed in on the national team’s chances in the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup. With Pakistan are one of the most unpredictable teams in the world, it’s hard to count them out of any ICC tournament. Salman Butt remains optimistic of the men in green’s chances as they have played plenty of cricket in the UAE.

While Pakistan’s performance in the first two T20 World Cups had been outstanding, they last reached the knockouts in 2012. After suffering a narrow defeat to arch-rivals India in 2007, the men in green beat Sri Lanka in 2009 to lift the trophy. But their showing in the last two editions has not been very inspiring.

Salman Butt pointed out that with IPL set to take place in the UAE before the World Cup, all top overseas and Indian players would have an idea about the pitches, average scores, and the game plan needed to be followed. But the 36-year old reckons that even if the World Cup had not moved from India to the UAE, the conditions in India are similar to that of Pakistan.

“IPL will also take place before the World Cup, so Indian players will also play there. All the top international players they will also be part of the IPL. So everybody will have a fair idea regarding the kind of pitches, gameplan and average scores. So everybody will be accustomed to the conditions. Even if the World Cup had taken place in India, the conditions there are similar to that in Pakistan,” Butt told in his Youtube channel.

Pakistan has played a lot of cricket in the UAE: Salman Butt

But Salman Butt also reminded the second leg of PSL 2021 occurred in the UAE; hence, all the top players know the conditions. Butt reckons that Pakistan has a good chance to win the tournament since spin bowlers would come into play, while fast bowlers will have a role to play as well if tracks are similar to Abu Dhabi. He feels pacers who can hit good length could trouble the batsmen.

“Pakistan has played a lot of cricket in the UAE, and the remaining leg of the PSL was also played there. Pakistan is in with a good chance because spin bowlers come into play. But if we get pitches like we did in Abu Dhabi, then whichever team has better fast bowlers they too will come into action. Fast bowlers who can hit good length can create a lot of trouble,” he added.

Also Read: Five Players With Most T20 International Sixes Since 2018