LAHORE: Pakistan will be one of the favourites to win the World Cup, which is set to be held in India in October-November, former pacer Aaqib Javed has said.

While addressing reporters here on Tuesday, Aaqib, a World Cup winner himself, believed Pakistan had a number of players who were reliable enough to help the side overcome any opponent in the 50-over showpiece.

The 50-year-old based his argument on the opinion that conditions in India would be fairly familiar to the Pakistan, who he noted were well-equipped in all departments of the game.

Whether Pakistan travel across the border for the World Cup, however, is yet to be decided by the country’s government.

Few months earlier, there were chances the national side would boycott the event given India’s refusal to participate in the preceding Asia Cup, which is to be held in Pakistan in September.

With the regional tournament now decided to be played on a “hybrid model”, the matter is now under control, with the government to give a final approval for Pakistan to tour India.

Aaqib said the Pakistan Cricket Board had no choice but to go to India for the World Cup, given the latter’s financial status as the sport’s giant and also the stature of the showpiece itself.

The ex right-arm fast bowler also condemned the ongoing instability within the PCB over the pending elections for the board’s chairman’s post. Aaqib feared cricketing affairs would be affected by the ongoing issues. He believed a PCB chairman should not be a cricketer necessarily but he or she has to have experience in management.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023