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SPORTS JULY 14, 2023 | The Indian Eye 38
ODI WORLD CUP 2023
Virat Kohli recalls fond memories of 2011
final; Akram upbeat about Pak’s chances
OUR BUREAU ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman will be
among the key batters, while Pakistan
Mumbai
can turn to a pace attack that includes
he ‘Chasemaster’ and former Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Na-
India captain Virat Kohli ex- seem Shah.
Tpressed his delight over the All the ingredients are there for
ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 Pakistan to be among the favourites
schedule and picked the venue he is to claim a second World Cup title
most excited to play during the World this year and Wasim expects the con-
Cup at home. ditions that teams will face in India
ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 during the tournament will also fa-
schedule was unveiled on Tuesday at a vour his former side.
gathering in Mumbai. The World Cup “We have a good side...a very
kicks off on October 5 with a repeat good one-day side and are led by one
of the 2019 final as England takes on of the modern-day greats in Babar
New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Azam,” Wasim Akram told the ICC.
Stadium in Ahmedabad. Hosts India “As long as they are fit and as
will begin their campaign on October long as they play according to the
8 against five-time World Cup cham- plan, they will have a chance of doing
pions Australia in Chennai. well in that World Cup because it is
For the first time, India will be played in our type of conditions in In-
the sole host nation for a 50-over dia on the sub-continent,” the former
World Cup. They previously shared Pakistan captain said.
hosting duties with countries from Pakistan won five of their nine
the subcontinent such as Pakistan, Sri matches at the most recent edition of
Lanka, and Bangladesh in 1987, 1996, the 50-over World Cup, but narrow-
and 2011. ly missed out on qualifying for the
The 2011 World Cup champion semi-finals of the 2019 event due to
Kohli also named his favourite loca- inferior net run rate.
tion he is most excited to play during Their form since that tournament
the World Cup at home. The former has been excellent, with Babar’s side
India captain stated he will feel the having lost just nine 50-over contests
same way about the Wankhede as he since then to currently be ranked sec-
would about any other World Cup ond on the ODI team rankings.
venue. Babar has been a model of con-
“Personally, I’m looking forward sistency during that strong run, with
to playing in Mumbai in this World the right-hander having scored eight
Cup. It’ll be great to experience that of his 18 ODI centuries since the 2019
atmosphere again. I can understand be,” Kohli added. their best players can remain fit and tournament to maintain his strangle-
what they went through and how spe- The much-awaited encounter in form. Pakistan is led by the No.1- hold on the premier position in the
cial it is to play home World Cup and between India and Pakistan will take ranked ODI batter in Babar Azam ODI batter rankings.
how excited people are going to be,” place at the Narendra Modi Stadium and have an experienced group of Wasim is a massive fan of Babar
Virat Kohli told ICC. in Ahmedabad on Sunday, October 15 players to support him. and would not be surprised to see the
Kohli reminisced about the 2011 and will be the eighth meeting between ICC on Tuesday announced the inspirational Pakistan skipper raise
World Cup final, which India won the two sides at a men’s World Cup. schedule of the One Day interna- his game even further during the
by a margin of six wickets against Sri Meanwhile, Pakistan great tional (ODI) of the World Cup, with World Cup.
Lanka at Mumbai’s venerable Wank- Wasim Akram believes his former the first match to be played between “I think he can (get better) as he
hede Stadium. Before being taken out side has enough quality in their ranks England and New Zealand at the is the best player we have,” Wasim
by a spectacular catch by Tilakaratne to be a major player at this year’s ICC Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat’s noted.
Dilshan, Kohli had hit four fours in 35 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Ahmedabad on October 5. “The whole country follows him,
off 49 balls. Wasim was part of the famous India and Pakistan will square off everything he does. He gets people
“I was quite young then. I saw team that helped Pakistan claim at the same venue on October 15, the into the stadium and it doesn’t mat-
what it meant to the seniors. I can un- their only World Cup title at the Mel- ICC announced. ter whether it is T20, one-dayers or
derstand what they went through and bourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in The final will also be played at Test cricket and, in my opinion, he
how special it is to play a home world 1992, and the legendary pacer thinks the same venue. has the most beautiful cover drive in
cup and how excited they are going to a second trophy can be clinched if Mohammad Rizwan, Imam- the world.”
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