As the reigning 2009 T20 World Cup champions and Hafeez runner-up in 2007 and 2022 editions, Pakistan would be looking for a successful beginning against the United States at Dallas on Thursday.
It seems that the unpredictable Pakistan who were runners-up in the previous T20 World Cup are but only remnants of their previous selves unlike the preceding global event in Australia.
Pakistan’s road to this World Cup has not been easy on or off the field. After an embarrassing defeat by New Zealand, Shaheen Shah Afridi was strippe of his captaincy. Then followed a humiliating home series draw against struggling New Zealanders.
Pakistan had even lost a match to Bangladesh before being humiliated by England 0-2.
However, with US as an opponent, Pakistan is often see as mercurial favourites and former Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez provided insight into why that is through his commentaries.
Hafeez posted a small X video where he is talking at talk shows with Younis Khan and Martin Guptill (former Pakistani Captain) from Pakistani.
When asked about how good Hafeez thinks they are against US by one of two female anchors? Hafeez says “I will only say for the Pakistan team, as a Pakistani (laughs), that this is our only place we can beat them.”
At Hafeez’s response, both anchors and Younis Khan also burst out laughing together.
We must not forget that they were also semi-finalists in 2010, 2012 and 2021 editions too. Babar Azam, aged just fourteen years old when he lifted silverware at Lord’s; where Younis Khan led Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka in the final after making name for himself as captain/leader of his under-age group cricket team.
New York will be their next stop after USA match where they will lock horns with traditional rivals India on Sunday.
