Published: Feb 04, 2015, 03:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 04, 2015, 03:40 PM (IST)
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has described the ICC World Cup 2015 clash between India and Pakistan as a match with as much importance as the tournament final, effectively making it a ‘final before the final’.
“It will boost the morale of the winning team and give an additional edge as well. It will surely be a final before the final,” he added. He said the much-anticipated match between the arch-rivals would be the most crucial match of the tournament,” Qadir was quoted as saying, according to a report by dailytimes.com.pk.
The two teams face off in their Pool B encounter at the Adelaide Oval on February 15 in what is expected to be a firecracker of a match. India have the added pressure of defending their unbeaten World Cup streak, having defeated them five times so far without a defeat in the biggest event in cricket.
Qadir also stated that the Indian selectors made a major blunder by keeping stalwarts such as Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag out of the squad, adding that their presence would have given skipper MS Dhoni the option of playing four regular bowlers.
According to the yesteryear cricketer, only one Asian team would make it to the semi-final, with Australia, South Africa and New Zealand being Qadir’s favourites to enter the last four.
“I think that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will reach the last four and the last team will be from Asian sub-continent provided England does not give them serious competition,” added Qadir.
