A file image of former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf.
Former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has claimed that Pakistan are the favourites to win the ICC World Cup 2019 in England. Pakistan won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy by beating arch-rivals India in the final.
Recently in an interview with Pak Passion, he explained the reason behind his choice. He said: "I think Pakistan are the favourites. I say that because I feel they have the best bowling attack, particularly on flat tracks. When I say best, I mean they have the best-balanced attack. An attack which can take wickets regularly and not let the opposition settle."
"Another key factor is that Pakistan will not be relying on part-time bowlers, they have six or seven genuine bowlers in the team and that is something that not many of the teams participating at the World Cup will have at their disposal. On the sort of flat tracks that will be available in England at that time, the team with the best bowling attack will succeed. I believe that bowling attack belongs to Pakistan," he elaborated.
However, some fans brutally trolled Mohammad Yousuf for his claim, reminding the batsman that Pakistan's recent ODI series whitewash against Zimbabwe doesn't make them the favourites to lift the World Cup next year.
Pakistan whitewashed Zimbabwe 5-0 in the ODI series last month. However, before this series, the Sarfraz Ahmed-led side were whitewashed 5-0 by New Zealand in the ODI series played in January this year.
Mohammad Yousuf is one of the greatest batsmen to have played for Pakistan. He managed to score 9720 runs in 288 One Day Internationals with an average of 41.71. In the longest format of the game, Yousuf was Pakistan's Mr Dependable as he scored with an average of 52.29 to end his career with 7530 runs in 90 matches.
