Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram lauded India’s performance in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, despite their heartbreaking defeat in the final against Australia.
Akram admitted that the India players must be shattered after they missed out on the golden opportunity to lift the World Cup trophy in front of their home crowd, but their cricket "is in a good place".
Notably, the Men in Blue entered the World Cup 2023 final with 10 wins in a row, but their bad day came in the final, as the mighty Australians won the game by 6 wickets to clinch their sixth title.
Wasim Akram was quoted as saying by PTI: “Obviously they must be shattered to lose the final but in cricket these things happen. India had one bad day, and unfortunately, it came in the final.”
The former Pakistan captain added, “You look at their structure, the money for players, the well thought out programs and the back-up talent and they really just need to continue doing these things. Their cricket is in a good place.”
Akram also said that Australians are mentally tough players, especially in knockouts, and he has already seen such scenes in his career, so credit to them for the 2023 World Cup victory.
He signed off by saying, “I was captain when we played them in the 1999 World Cup final and although we had beaten them in the league stage, in the final they were a different side just like yesterday in Ahmedabad.”
Meanwhile, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif said that the Indian cricket team deserved to win the World Cup 2023, but Australia’s toughness earned them the trophy.
Latif said, “Maybe it is just a psychological thing with the Indian players. This team was worthy of winning the World Cup final but all credit to the Australians for showing once again how mentally tough and organised they are in their sports.”
He also lauded Mohammad Shami for his outstanding performance in the tournament, where the Indian pacer finished as highest wicket taker with 24 scalps.
Latif signed off by saying, "You look at the way he has come up and done so well. He was in my opinion the standout player for India in this World Cup.”
(With PTI Inputs)
