Pak favorites to win Twenty20 World Cup: Akram

Lahore, May 22 (ANI): Former captain Wasim Akram has said that Pakistan are favorites to win the next Twenty20 World Cup beginning in England from June 5.

Akram said Pakistan has the best track record in the Twenty20 format of the game as compared to other teams in the world, which makes it the favourites to win the coveted title.

"Pakistan has the best winning ratio of all the teams in the Twenty20 cricket. If they keep that consistency then they can lift the coveted title in England," The Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

Pointing towards the team's stupendous performance against Australia in the Twenty20 match in Dubai last month, Akram said Pakistan posses a strong bowling line-up that could create trouble for even the world's best team.

"I thought Australia would thrash them in the one-off Twenty20 match in Dubai but it was the other way round, with Umar Gul, Shoail Tanvir and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Pakistan have the best bowling attack backed by quality spin of Shahid Afridi," he said.

Akram added that batting was the worrying factor for the team, as the senior players were struggling with their rhythm.

"Batting can let Pakistan down, as it has always done in the past, so there will be more responsibility on Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi," he said.

ommenting on the defending champion India's chances of winning the trophy once again, Akram said Mahendra Singh Dhoni's dream of winning the championship for the second time could suffer, as the Indian players would be going into the event after a hectic season.

"I think Pakistan has played less cricket and will be fresh, while Indian players could be fatigued after playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL)," Akram added. (ANI)