Pakistan should have the advantage in T20 World Cup: Kamran Akmal after tournament gets shifted to UAE

Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal believes his team should have the advantage in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Akmal feels as Pakistan has the experience of playing in UAE, it will give them an advantage as they have been playing there for the last decade.

Pakistan has played most of their cricket in UAE and they are used to the conditions. Pakistan has played their home matches in UAE as they could not host matches on their own soil.

“Pakistan should have the advantage in the T20 World Cup. We’ve played international cricket for 9 to 10 years in the UAE. That makes Pakistan the most experienced side under the conditions,” Akmal said on the Youtube channel ‘My Master Cricket Coach’.

Furthermore, not only Pakistan players have played their International matches in UAE but also the PSL has been held there. Moreover, as the IPL will also be played in UAE before the T20 World Cup, the Indian players will also have the advantage of getting used to the conditions.

“Not only players from India and Pakistan but from other countries will also benefit going into the T20 World Cup since a lot of them play in both PSL (Pakistan Super League) and IPL (Indian Premier League). Given the conditions in the UAE, Afghanistan can also prove to be a dangerous side, looking at the players that they have. So, it is difficult to pick a favourite for the T20 World Cup,” said Akmal.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the T20 World Cup will be played from October 17 and the final will be played on November 17. However, BCCI president Ganguly revealed that the ICC and the Indian board is yet to finalise the dates.

“We have officially intimated the ICC that the T20 World Cup can be shifted to the United Arab Emirates. The details are being chalked out,” Ganguly told PTI. “The decision was taken keeping health safety concerns of all stakeholders in mind,” he added.

When asked if October 17 has been finalised as the start date of the tournament, Ganguly said, “We will be able to finalise itinerary details in some days. October 17 start hasn’t yet been finalised.”