The excitement for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is increasing with every passing day. The quadrennial event will be held in India from October 5 to November 19.
With less than 50 days left for the showpiece tournament, experts are back with their opinions. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif believes Asian sides including India and Pakistan will find it tough to match the power-hitting skills of other teams in the upcoming ODI World Cup.
According to Latif, the likes of England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would bring something new with their approach.
“The one area where I feel Asian teams will struggle to match these sides are particularly in the middle overs when a fast strike rate is required even in 50-overs,” Latif said while speaking to Cricket Baaz Youtube channel.
“The English, Australian and New Zealand batters have turned to reverse sweep and switch shots against the spinners into something very lethal nowadays.
“A bowler like Adil Rashid or someone like Moeen Ali buy their wickets whereas our spinners focus more on economical bowling. This will be one of the most closely contested World Cups and I don’t see Asian teams getting any extra edge because it is being held in India,” he added.
Latif, who featured in the 1996 and 2003 editions of World Cup, also mentioned that hosts India are not certain about their selection and lost the recent T20I series in West Indies because of not allowing new players to settle down properly.
“Indian team management has experimented with several players and if I talk about their batting the middle and lower order say from 4 to 7 they just have not allowed any new player to settle down with frequent changes.”
Rashid feels handing the captaincy to many candidates in the last two years hasn’t helped India’s cause.
“If they had allowed Virat Kohli to continue as captain, India would be 100 percent ready for the World Cup by this time.”
Sharing his experience of playing in the 1996 World Cup hosted by India, the former Pakistan captain said: “By the 5th over my throat was dry because of the pressure and nerves and there was so much noise from the crowd that one couldn’t even hear the point and gully fielders or get your voice across to them.”
(With PTI Inputs)
