Pakistani great Shahid Afridi is looking forward to Sunday, June 9, when the American people may watch the cricket Super Bowl in New York.
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup: As the representative of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in New York, Shahid Afridi was ecstatic about the possibility of a match between Pakistan and India.
Afridi drew parallels between the event and the world-famous Super Bowl, stating that the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will host the “greatest cricketing rivalry” for the cricket-loving American audience.
Afridi wrote in his column for the ICC
“For those Americans discovering the tournament, they should know that Pakistan’s game against India is like our Super Bowl,” Afridi wrote in his column for the ICC. “I used to absolutely love playing India and I really believe it is the biggest rivalry in sport.
“When I played in those games, I got a lot of love and respect from the Indian fans and it means so much to both sides.
“Against India, it is about handling the pressure of the occasion. There is so much talent in both teams, they just need to put it together on the day.”
According to Afridi, the large South Asian expat community will not only love and support the game, but will also help it flourish in the future.
The backing in the US is going to be fantastic. Over there, you’ll find a fantastic expat community that is mad about cricket.
And American football, basketball, and baseball are all sports that the American people like. For young cricketers like myself, I can’t wait for the sport to become popular in that country in the coming years.
Though he was adamant about not picking a favorite in the India-Pakistan match, he did support the Men in Green to shake off their previous lackluster performance and give it their all throughout the tournament.
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup
At the most recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, Pakistan proved they could take on any team, according to Afridi. I still think they have what it takes to take the West Indies and the United States by storm in 2024, despite their erratic play.
The former all-rounder said that Pakistan’s previous T20 World Cup runs were a major indicator of how the team performed in the final minutes of the tournament. On the tour of the United States and the West Indies, he was especially bullish on Pakistan’s pace attack.
There is no doubt about the team’s potential; they have advanced to the final and semi-finals in the past two ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. They will thrive in the Caribbean climate.
There is a plethora of skill on the team, and the bowling assault in particular should do very well in that environment. Not only is there a ton of depth, but the fast bowlers are world-class.
Afridi said that committing to a definite squad and supporting the regular players would be crucial to Pakistan’s success.
“Class is far more significant than current performance. As we have seen on multiple occasions, the course of a T20 match can shift dramatically in the span of a few overs.
“The selectors have been giving new players a chance to show what they can do, which is why Pakistan’s results have been somewhat inconsistent.
Choosing the optimal lineup for the World Cup was a top priority. I anticipate that once they reach the field, they will aim for the powerplay while maintaining a high strike rate, and then they will build up until the 14th over. After that, the finishing touch is crucial.
At the T20 World Cup, Pakistan will kick off their campaign on Thursday, June 6, against co-hosts the United States in Dallas.
