India vs Pakistan LIVE: ‘Pakistan can be kings again despite India’s IPL riches’–Ahead of the blockbuster clash between India vs Pakistan, Former Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar feels Babar Azam & Co will once again be the kings of Asian cricket despite India’s rise as world-beaters on the back of the riches of the IPL. Follow T20 World Cup live updates on insidesport.in
India vs Pakistan LIVE: ‘Pakistan can be kings again despite India’s IPL riches,’ says Mudassar Nazar
“I don’t think Pakistan has changed. It is India who have changed,” Nazar told AFP ahead of the eagerly-awaited India-Pakistan clash at the Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday.
“With the advent of the IPL they have used the money really, really well. If you look at the domestic competition in India, look at all the associations, how well they are organising their cricket,” he added.
India vs Pakistan LIVE: He further stated that India is among three best sides in the world: “Everybody has got their own stadium, their own academies, school cricket, state cricket. Cricket is thriving in India. But the people who have been consistently doing well have been England and Australia…India is in the forefront and among the three best sides in the world.”
Starting in 2008, a year after the inaugural T20 World Cup, the IPL ushered in a new era of white-ball cricket that witnessed the game break new ground in viewership and fan base.
The IPL emerged as the world’s richest T20 league with its brand value estimated at $6.7 billion in 2019 by the Duff and Phelps financial consultancy. At the same time, Pakistan was becoming a no-go zone for international cricket following the 2009 terror attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team.
“The BCCI have been very clever in how they used the IPL money. Indian cricket was powerful before that but since then it has seen a lot of consistency,” said Nazar.
“They have got all the areas covered. You talk about fast bowling, you talk about spinners, fielding, the physical side, it’s a powerhouse. They seem to be getting top-class batsmen every season. At the moment they are looking very formidable.”
Pakistan were kings of the sub-continent from the mid-1980s to 1990s with their on-field brilliance under Imran Khan, who led them to the 1992 World Cup, before India turned the tables.
India vs Pakistan LIVE: Nazar remains hopeful that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) – the nation’s premier T20 tournament – and new management will revive the game.
“It is also a matter of cycles. One decade we could be better than the rest of the world and then somebody else catches up,” said Nazar, who played 76 Tests between 1976 and 1989 with a batting average of over 38.
India vs Pakistan LIVE: Pakistan once had a far better head-to-head record against India who played catch up with their arch-rivals from 2000 onwards.
Nazar, who had been part of that strong Pakistan set-up, said the national team will someday turn a corner and notch up their first win against India in a World Cup. “When we were playing we always had the edge and towards the end of my career we won most games against India than we lost,” said the 65-year-old Nazar.
India vs Pakistan LIVE: Head-to-Head in ICC tournaments
- Pakistan is yet to beat India in any World Cup fixture.
- India leads Pakistan 6-1 in 8 T20 matches, including a tie.
- The record shows Pakistan will have an uphill task against Virat Kohli & Co. in the upcoming contest.
- The two neighbours had last met each other in the 2019 World Cup in Manchester on October 29.
| Tournament | Matches played | India won | Pakistan won | Draw/Tie/No result |
| World Cup | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 World Cup | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Champions Trophy | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
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