File photo of Wasim Akram© Twitter
As all-rounder Hardik Pandya continues to recover from the ankle injury he sustained during Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has said that the Indian squad “looks good” even without the presence of Hardik Pandya. After his injury, Hardik could not take part of the remainder of the match against Bangladesh before he completely missed India’s recent match against New Zealand too. However, the Rohit Sharma-led side went on to win both the matches comfortably.
“This squad looks good even without Pandya. If he is fit then well and good,” Akram told Sportskeeda.
The changes in Indian squad for the New Zealand game saw Mohammed Shami getting to play his first game of the ongoing World Cup. The right-arm pacer cashed in on the opportunity as he returned figures of 5 for 54 in 10 overs.
“It will be difficult to drop Shami now. I feel India shouldn’t risk Pandya (against England) because if it’s an injury to a hamstring or quad, then although you feel good initially, you could pull a muscle in the match. So let him recover 100 percent and then you can play him,” Akram said.
“Credit to the team management that whenever any player in the squad comes into the XI, he seems ready. When Shami’s ball hits the seam, it can deviate either way,” he added.
Shami struck on the first ball of his Cricket World Cup 2023 and never looked back in the game since then.
“It is not easy to come into the World Cup and hit the ground running straight away. He (Shami) is a new ball bowler and sometimes while bowling first-change, you can get emotional and think ‘why didn’t i get the new ball?’ But he has the experience and he made the most of the opportunity that he got to win the game for his country,” said the Pakistan great.
India are set to face England next at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on October 29.
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