Ahead of the high voltage clash between India and Pakistan at the ICC World Cup 2023, former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has picked his winner.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to lock horns against each other on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India has thoroughly dominated their rivalry against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup. Both teams have played against each other seven times in the 50-over World Cup so far and India have won all of them.
The last meeting between the two sides also went in India’s favor. India and Pakistan played against each other in the T20 World Cup last year and the former went on to register a thrilling game. The arch-rivals gave the cricketing world one of the best T20 matches of all time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Saeed Ajmal picks the winner for the India-Pakistan clash:
While Pakistan is yet to win a single match against India in the ODI World Cup, Saeed Ajmal has backed them to break the duck in the upcoming edition. The former Pakistan spin spearhead heaped praise on Pakistan’s current bowling lineup and backed his country to win the game.
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“India’s batting has always been strong. Our bowling is dangerous. It will be a battle of equals. Right now, I would say Pakistan has a 60% chance of winning. (Are Pakistan favorites?) Yes. In Indian conditions, considering the bowlers Pakistan has, if Pakistan keeps them down to a low score, Pakistan will win,” Saeed Ajmal said on the Nadir Ali podcast.
Speaking further, Saeed Ajmal claimed that India’s bowling lineup has always been weak. He did say that the likes of Siraj, Shami, Jadeja, and Bumrah could pose problems for Pakistan but said that India’s bowling won’t be a threat.
“India’s bowling lineup has always been weak,” said Ajmal. “Of late, Siraj has bowled well. Shami has been bowling well. Among spinners, I think Ravindra Jadeja will be crucial in World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah could have been a threat for Pakistan, but he has been unfit for quite some time. I don’t think India’s bowling will be much of a threat for Pakistan.”
