Pakistan Will Lose To Ireland In T20 World Cup 2024: Ex-India Star Makes MASSIVE Prediction
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Pakistan are placed in a group alongside India, Ireland, USA and Canada in the T20 World Cup 2024.
- Robin Uthappa made the bold prediction that Pakistan can lose to Ireland.
- He called the Men in Green’s fielding ‘shady’.
The T20 World Cup 2024 is all set to begin from June 2, with the tournament being held for the first time jointly by West Indies and USA. Pakistan are one of the strongest teams to enter the competition this time around, as they will be in contention to win their second title. They have been placed in a group comprising of India, Ireland, USA and Canada, and are expected to make it into the Super 8 quite easily. However, former India batter and T20 World Cup winner in 2007, Robin Uthappa feels that the Men in Green might be at the receiving end of one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa said that Ireland can potentially cause the upset of the T20 World Cup 2024, by beating Pakistan in the group stage
“Pakistan. I was waiting to give the answer when you asked the question,” Uthappa told Ashwin when the latter asked who Ireland can beat to cause an upset.
Uthappa said that Pakistan have always lost to a minnow nation, especially in an ICC tournaments. He even called Pakistan’s fielding ‘shady’, and the reason why they could lose the match against Ireland.
“It’s just that Pakistan has been one of those teams where, in a tournament, especially in an ICC tournament, they have always been upset by somebody. There is one of those games. See, their fielding has been particularly iffy at all times. we have seen it in the latest Asia Cup that even happened. I think, across time, in fact, Pakistan’s fielding has been very shady I that sense. So I think, one of those games will happen where they will not turn up. I feel a team like Ireland can certainly upset them,” Uthappa said.
Robin Uthappa also pointed out that the opening combination of Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling will be key for Ireland. He also named wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker as another player who can make a difference.
“For me, I think it is definitely someone like the opening batters, Barbirnie and Sterling. They are high-quality players. I think Stirling is someone who is quite underrated. Goes around the world playing league cricket and goes about his business in a very stellar fashion. I think he plays cricket very, very well. Just his approach to cricket is very good. Locan Tucker is also a solid bat. Wicket-keeper. Has consistently performed well,” he said.