Pakistan’s Cheeky Great Says: “They Were Thinking Ahead”
The IPL 2024 final between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad featured no Indian cricket team players who had been selected for the T20 World Cup 2024.The IPL 2024 final between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad featured no Indian cricket team players who had been selected for the T20 World Cup 2024. The lone exception was Rinku Singh, who was named to the tournament’s reserve team. Wasim Akram, a legendary Pakistan fast bowler, joked that the Indian players may be “thinking ahead” to get some rest before the event, but it may also be a “blessing in disguise” for Rohit Sharma and co. “Well, at least none of them will have to admit to being fatigued.
They were thinking ahead, what is the point of making it to the final? India is more important, therefore we will play for the country. “But it could be a blessing in disguise for India,” Akram told Sportskeeda.
“We addressed in the prior episode that I was concerned that they would be exhausted, and they will be, without a doubt. Even America is not on their path. I believe Pakistan’s first match was in Dallas, if I recall correctly. Now they’ll go there and play one or two practice matches. It will be fine, I suppose. It’s T20, so the boys will recuperate; currently, fitness levels are quite good,” he said.
Along with reserves Shubman Gill and Khaleel Ahmed, the initial group of players—which included Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj—left for New York on Monday.
Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both of the Rajasthan Royals, together with Sanju Samson, will shortly join the team. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya will be late additions to the Indian cricket team.
India’s campaign will begin on June 5 against Ireland and conclude on June 9 against Pakistan.
