Shane Watson backs Pakistan to lift T20 World Cup trophy
The final will be played at the MCG today
MELBOURNE: Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has backed the Pakistan team to win the T20 World Cup 2022 trophy.
The Men in Green will face England in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, today.
“I want Pakistan to win. I don’t want England to win but defeating them will be a challenge for Pakistan,” Watson told media on Sunday.
“The final will be a battle between England’s top-order and Pakistan’s bowling. Whoever wins this contest will lift the trophy,” he added.
Watson also threw weight behind Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s opening pair.
"The opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should not be tinkered with. They are technically correct and do not take risk. They can take the game away from the opposition once they are set," the former right-hander said.
Pakistan are slight underdogs against Jos Buttler's England, but Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is banking on the strength of his fast bowlers to give them an edge, particularly in the six-over powerplay.
"England is a competitive team, their [10-wicket] win to reach the finals against India was a proof of that," he said.
"Our strategy is to stick to our plan and use our pace attack as our strength to win the finals.
"Utilising the powerplay to grab as many wickets will be essential for the match."
Meanwhile, Buttler, who used to fantasise about captaining England to cricketing glory when he played with his siblings in their garden as a child, will lead England in the Twenty20 World Cup final in his first major tournament since succeeding Eoin Morgan as white-ball skipper.
"I´ve certainly had a few dreams about that kind of thing," said the 32-year-old on Saturday.
"Of course I think it really links back to what you were like as a kid, the kind of things you would be doing in the garden with your brother and sister, pretending to lift a trophy.
"And now to be able to have the opportunity, to have a chance, to live that kind of thing out is incredibly special."
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