Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan feels that the Babar Azam-led Pakistan side are the best-placed team in the ongoing T20 World Cup so far. Pakistan have won all their three matches in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage, defeating India, New Zealand and Afghanistan to virtually qualify for the semis.
Muralitharan backs his opinion based on Pakistan’s winning streak where they have beaten two strongest team in the group to sit atop in the table with six points.
“When it comes to the team in the best position though, I think Pakistan are looking good because they have already beaten the two strongest teams in their group in India and New Zealand,” he wrote in his column in ICC.
“They have so much talent, which has always been the case, but like the West Indies, in the past they used to have those off days where they played really badly.”
Pakistan have won the T20 World Cup only once, back in 2009.
“This team feels different. I am not sure where it has come from but they have momentum and a world-class bowling attack,” the Sri Lankan legend wrote.
“The batting is built around Babar Azam, who is their one world-class batter, but then there is the experience of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez who have been playing 15 years of international cricket, as well as some good youngsters. Traditionally they have not been a strong fielding team, but that has changed as well.”
The veteran cricketer also believes that the addition of former Australian opener Matthew Hayden as a batting coach has made a massive difference to the team.
“The biggest thing for them though, has been the input of Matthew Hayden. He really understands the game from his playing days and it feels like has been a great advisor for the team. That is a big factor in how good they look,” he wrote.
