Every international side at this moment has its eyes set at the ICC Men's ODI World Cup set to happen in India later this year. With the tournament set to be staged entirely in India for the first time and a home advantage, India are being looked at as among the favourites with England, who hold the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, will also be the ones to look out for.
However, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram thinks one shouldn't look too far away from Pakistan whom he considers the favourites to the lift the trophy in 2023. Notably, the Men in Green's only triumph at the ODI World Cup came in 1992 when Imran Khan-led team scripted history.
Akram, who was the Player of the Match in the final of the famous Pakistan win for his all-round show of 33 from 18 and figures of 3/49, reckons there is a good possibility that Babar Azam & Co. could lift the Cup this year.
"Both (India and Pakistan) are fantastic teams. Our captain is a great player, and we have one of the best fast-bowling lineups in the world," Akram told Sports Tak.
"Shaheen Afridi is currently in prime form. He has led his team to victory in the PSL for the second time. He is developing pretty well as an all-rounder. Then there is Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. (Mohammad) Hasnain is there, and Ihsanullah is an exciting young fast bowler. I think because the World Cup is happening in India, it is the team with the stronger bowling attack that will succeed because the pitches tend to be batter-friendly," he said.
In the 2019 edition of the World Cup, Pakistan had failed to secure qualification in the semis. On the other hand, India succumbed to a defeat in the semi-final game against New Zealand despite having restricted the Kiwis to 239/8.
It would be some quite contest if both these teams meet at the knockout stage of the World Cup this year on Indian soil.