'This team will produce a good result' - Shahid Afridi optimistic about Pakistan's T20 World Cup chances

Former World Cup-winning star Shahid Afridi believes that the current Pakistani team has everything they need to produce good results in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. He also advised the team to focus more on the man-management instead of the training sessions as the current squad has required enough international experience.

The Pakistani team have made a great comeback as one of the best cricketing nations in the world after some difficult period last decade. They are ranked third in ICC rankings for ODI and T20I formats. On the front of individual performances, star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan occupy the top two spots in ICC T20I player rankings. Afridi believes that the team now have a formidable setup of players in every department with the required skills and they only need to be managed.

“The team which will go for the 2022 World Cup in Australia has all the required skills, such as bowling strength, all-rounders along with players who can play attacking cricket. The pitches are also good in Australia so I’m hoping that this team will produce a good result. The important thing is man-management; coaching comes after that. The players have already played international cricket so it is all about managing them,” Afridi told Pakistani media.

Pakistan reached the finals of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 but lost to the arch-rivals India. The team went on to win the second edition of the World Cup in 2009, with Afridi being a part of both the finals. He shared his thoughts on how everyone supported captain Younis Khan to guide them to glory in 2009.

“Seniors and captain played a very important role in ensuring that the team remains motivated despite a tough start. We all supported Younis Khan, who was leading the side,” he added.

Pakistan are scheduled to face India at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium in their first match of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pakistan recorded their first-ever World Cup win against team India in the group stage fixture but lost to Australia in the semi-finals clash in the 2021 T20 World Cup.