Aakash Chopra warns Pakistan ahead of crucial T20 WC clash against Canada

Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns over Pakistan's ability to secure a win as the Men in Green prepares to face Canada in a crucial match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out that Canada recently secured an impressive victory against Ireland at the same venue, demonstrating their potential to cause upsets. He noted that Canada's strong bowling attack, including effective fast bowlers and a skilled left-arm spinner in Saad Bin Zafar, could pose significant challenges for the Pakistani team.

"You might be thinking about Pakistan's qualification chances. They are not too far behind in net run rate and since these games are being played on such grounds, no team will be able to catch up. It's difficult to beat Canada because they beat Ireland on the same ground. They have decent fast bowling and you also get a left-arm spinner in Saad Bin Zafar," Chopra said.

Chopra also criticized Pakistan’s team selection for the World Cup, suggesting that the batting lineup lacks the depth needed to compete at the highest level. He shared his observations after interacting with Pakistani fans, who expressed their disappointment following the loss to India.

"Pakistan's chances are not yet over although whichever people I met, in Manhattan and at the ground, everyone said they had been humiliated. The situation is very bad and the fans' anger is legit. More than the players, you should be angry with the way Pakistan cricket runs, that which people you select,"  he further added.

"If you felt that after selecting this team, especially this batting, you are making a world-beating team, it's T20, things can and might change, but it doesn't look like that after seeing the team. The batting does not have the might at all, how do you do that? That's Pakistan cricket for you," he concluded.

It is worth noting that Pakistan's campaign in the T20 World Cup has been underwhelming, starting with a surprising loss to the United States. The team, led by Babar Azam, failed to bounce back in their second match, where they couldn’t chase down a modest target of 120 runs against India in New York. This series of defeats has placed Pakistan in a precarious position, making the upcoming match against Canada a must-win.