The accolades highlight PIOCCI’s instrumental role in fostering excellence among Indian-origin entrepreneurs and promoting their global impact
kt network2 hours ago
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez believes that the team which draws first blood and lands the early punches will be the winner on Sunday in the big game between India and Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With the weather clearing (earlier weather reports had indicated that the game could be washed out), 90,000 people would be thronging the MCG to see the big game, and the whole world would be glued to their television sets as matches between India Pakistan are rare. And Hafeez hopes the weather does not play spoilsport.
When asked if Pakistan pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi’s return to the line-up will boost them, Hafeez said yes but cautioned that any bowler coming back from an injury will find it difficult to get straight into a match and that too a big game like India-Pakistan.
He added that in Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, Pakistan do have the fire power in the pace department and should be handy especially Rauf, who has the experience of playing in Australia's Big Bash League for three seasons.
Hafeez also added that India will badly miss Jasprit Bumrah but Mohammed Shami is an ideal replacement because of his experience.
When asked who would be the threat for Pakistan in the Indian batting, Hafeez said thatk getting the wickets of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early has always dented India and they are usually unable to reach a par score as India depend heavily on both these stars. But Hafeez added that KL Rahul can come to the party as he has all the big shots and an array of strokes and can hurt Pakistan.
He said that even though Suryakumar Yadav is a special player, he has yet to prove himself against Pakistan as the pressure of an India-Pakistan game takes its toll and every player can't absorb it. This was endorsed on Friday by Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who said he gets goose bumps playing against Pakistan.
And most importantly, Hafeez said of late Pakistan have been playing better and confident cricket against India and they took the monkey off the back by beating them comprehensively by 10 wickets, the last time the two teams met in the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
But when I asked him who will win the game, he said his heart and mind wants Pakistan to win but feels India are slight favourites because of the experience of playing and winning in Australia and that would be a big difference.
He signed off by saying India, Pakistan, Australia and England will make it to the the last four of this tournament.
Anis Sajan is the vice-chairman of the Danube Group
The accolades highlight PIOCCI’s instrumental role in fostering excellence among Indian-origin entrepreneurs and promoting their global impact
kt network2 hours ago
Yousafzai was evacuated from the country in 2012 after being shot by the Pakistan Taliban
asia3 hours ago
At 26, he has redefined that role to become people’s royalty
lifestyle3 hours ago
The former world number one, who had his visa cancelled over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid, insisted that he does not hold 'any grudge over the Australian people' despite the controversy
tennis3 hours ago
The latest exhibition interrogates colonial legacies and modern inequities through deeply personal and evocative installations in Plymouth, England
arts3 hours ago
Superstar jockey Chantal Sutherland makes sensational UAE comeback two years after battling back from life-threatening Florida accident
lifestyle3 hours ago
Pregnant and lactating women should avoid ginseng due to lack of safety data, it said
world3 hours ago
We are entering a new era
lifestyle3 hours ago