New Zealand pacer Tim Southee on Monday (August 21) said that the upcoming Asia Cup will provide a great opportunity to the Indian team to prepare for the ODI World Cup 2023 at home.
The BCCI men’s selection committee on Monday announced India’s 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, starting August 30.
"I guess ideally you want to play as much as you can together and to lead into a World Cup. But I think you look at the Asia Cup, and what better place to have your team together around that? I'd imagine that is going to be a big part of the Indian team's preparation at the Asia Cup," Southee told the media on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Award.
Southee also backed the Indian batters to have plans against left-arm pacers, who have troubled them in the past.
"I don't know what it is, but it was always handy to have a left-armer — something probably people don't face a lot of. Those two guys that you mentioned, Shaheen Shah and Trent Boult, are quality bowlers and have caused a lot of players headaches over the years," the Kiwi cricketer stated.
"I do not think it is too much of an issue. I'm sure the Indian players — world class players — will have solid game plans to whoever bowler they come up against," he added.
Southee said New Zealand hope that their talismanic skipper and ace batter Kane Williamson will regain his fitness just in time before the World Cup.
"Kane is doing everything possible to make sure he's alright for the World Cup. We won't know until we get closer to the World Cup, whether he will be available or not. I guess it is just wait and see with Kane," he said.
"(If) you look at us, with such a small cricketing nation, he's arguably one of our best ever cricketers. Any side that doesn't have him in it is going to miss him. We're hoping his recovery goes well and hoping that he's going to be okay, but if he doesn't, then it presents an opportunity for someone else to step up," Southee said.
"Over the last couple of years we've been able to build some depth from some players and I'm sure we'll find someone that can fill that role," he added.
Southee acknowledged that the scheduling of T20 competitions has made it difficult for teams to align resources.
In order to prepare for the World Cup, the Black Caps will play four ODIs against England from September 8 to September 15.
"It's been tough for all sides at the moment with T20 cricket and juggling the different formats and busy schedules to have your (players) started and living together for a long period of time, but I'd imagine that will change in the next couple of months in the lead up to the World Cup," he remarked.
Southee believes the New Zealand players, who featured in the IPL this year, would use their experience of the pitches and conditions.
"Every time you've come to these parts of the world, the guys that (are) from New Zealand that were involved in the IPL earlier in the year, would have gained as much knowledge as they can about the grounds and the surfaces that we'll be playing on," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
