"No matter how badly they might have played the last match, don't take Pakistan lightly" - Mohammad Kaif on India's 2024 T20 WC clash vs Men in Green
Mohammad Kaif has warned India against taking Pakistan lightly in their 2024 World Cup 2024 clash despite Babar Azam and company losing to the United States of America. He added that the Men in Blue need to be wary of Pakistan's pace attack on a seamer-friendly pitch.
The two arch-rivals will square off in a Group A game in New York on Sunday, June 9. While India registered a convincing eight-wicket win against Ireland in their tournament opener at the same venue on June 5, Pakistan lost to the USA in a Super Over in Dallas a day later.
While speaking on Star Sports, Kaif noted that Pakistan are an unpredictable team and cannot be taken lightly.
"Pakistan are coming after losing their last game. However, no matter how badly they might have played the last match, don't take Pakistan lightly because Pakistan play like that only. When you feel that they are such a bad team as they lost to the USA, anything can happen when they come to play tomorrow (on Sunday)," he said.
The former India batter added that Pakistan's potent seam attack makes them a huge threat.
"They have the bowling. They have Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir, although the last match might have gone bad. On a pitch that is helping fast bowling, Pakistan have the fast bowlers. If India get to bat first, anything can happen. So India will have to be ready and absolutely alert. The Indian team will have to play their best game in tomorrow's match," Kaif elaborated.
Pakistan will likely go with a four-pronged seam attack of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir. While Shadab Khan is expected to be the only frontline spinner in their playing XI, Iftikhar Ahmed could bowl a few handy overs of spin.
"India couldn't have prepared better than this" - Mohammad Kaif
However, Mohammad Kaif opined that India couldn't have prepared better for the crunch game against Pakistan.
"India dominated the first match. The way they won the match, it was a massive victory. Whether you talk about batting or bowling, it was fantastic. Hardik Pandya picked up wickets and Jasprit Bumrah bowled a splendid maiden over, his first over," he explained in the same interaction.
"Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten half-century. He went out because he got hurt. India couldn't have got a better start than this. On a seaming track where batting was difficult, Rohit Sharma's bat fired and Rishabh Pant went unbeaten after scoring the winning hit. In my opinion, India couldn't have prepared better than this," the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
India bundled Ireland out for 96 in their T20 World Cup opener. Although Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply in the chase, Rohit Sharma's 37-ball 52 and Rishabh Pant's unbeaten 26-ball 36 took them to an emphatic win.