Everybody will have a fair idea of UAE conditions as IPL will take place before the T20 World Cup: Salman Butt

Pakistan cricket has had a long-standing relationship with unpredictability. However, enjoying a good ride in all formats of the game in the recent past, the team has managed to hand defeats to both South Africa and Zimbabwe in home and away series across different formats and are gearing up to face England soon in an away limited-overs assignment.

The series is crucial when seen in the backdrop of the imminent ICC T20 World Cup, which has been confirmed by the BCCI and the ICC to be held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman across four venues in September-October this year.

Notably, the infamous terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009 brought cricket in Pakistan to a halt, with UAE deemed their home for nearly a decade. With the 20-over World Cup shifting to the gulf country, many experts feel Pakistan will end up gaining the most out of this move, given their experience of playing in the emirates.

However, Salman Butt, the former Pakistan opener, went on to explain that the 14th edition of IPL, which was postponed midway in May 2021 due to a Covid-19 mishap – and is set to resume in the UAE before the T20 World Cup – will be an opportunity for every team to get accustomed to the conditions.

Pakistan is in with a good chance: Salman Butt

“IPL will also take place before the World Cup, so Indian players will also play there. All the top international players will also be part of the IPL. So, everybody will have a fair idea regarding the kind of pitches, gameplan and average scores; 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, 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.