Cricket is not well known in the United States. Americans are fond of football, baseball, and basketball. Bat-ball duel has responded in that country. Because the stage is the World Cup. And the fight is India-Pakistan. The two arch-rivals will meet on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan's former legendary all-rounder and goodwill ambassador of the current World Cup Shahid Afridi referred to the India-Pakistan match as the 'Super Bowl' of cricket. In a column written on the ICC's website, Afridi expressed his thoughts on Pakistan's chances in the 2024 T20 World Cup, the importance of the World Cup in US cricket and the thrill of the India-Pakistan match.
In the column, Afridi mentioned, 'Those who are introduced to the game in the United States through this World Cup, should know that the Pakistan-India match in cricket is very much like the Super Bowl. I also always loved playing against India. I believe this is the most competitive match in the world of sports. During the India-Pakistan match, I got a lot of love from Indian fans including Pakistan. Playing against India is a struggle to handle pressure. There is no shortage of talent on either side. However, it is important to keep proof of our ability in the field.
Afridi said about Pakistan's chances in the World Cup, "Pakistan can become a challenge for any team. The past T20 World Cups are proof of that. In 2024, Babar Azma will do well in the US and West Indies even if he is discontinuous. In the last two limited-overs World Cups, Pakistan played in one of the finals and the other in the semi-finals. This time they will do well in the Caribbean environment. They have talent. Especially the bowling attack. Pakistan's fast bowlers are ahead of any other team's bowlers.
Afridi feels that South Asians living in the US will come to the ground and show their love and support for cricket. He said, 'A large part of expatriates love cricket. I am sure, the audience will enjoy the game. And American people have always loved sports, be it football, basketball or baseball. I believe that within a few years, cricket will also become a mainstream sport in the US. This is great news for young cricketers.
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