Aakash Chopra has questioned light-heartedly whether the West Indies have turned up at the T20 World Cup 2021 to take part in a tournament or a pleasure trip.
West Indies take on South Africa in their second Super 12 stage match of the global event. Kieron Pollard‘s side goes into the encounter after a mauling at the hands of England in their tournament opener. South Africa had lost to Australia in the first match by 5 wickets after scoring a below-par 118.
Aakash Chopra Doesn’t Know If West Indies Came On A Tourist Visa To Dubai After Being Dismissed For 55 Against England
While previewing the West Indies-South Africa encounter in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra raised doubts about the two-time champions’ intentions.
West Indies lost nine of their 10 wickets, looking to hit a four or a six, while 59 of the 86 balls they faced were dots, and they did not attempt to rebuild after losing early wickets. Lendl Simmons (3), Evin Lewis (6), Shimron Hetmyer (9), Dwayne Bravo (5), Nicholas Pooran (1), Kieron Pollard (6), and Andre Russell (0) didn’t contribute much with the bat. Chris Gayle ended as the top scorer for West Indies with 13 runs off 13 balls.
Aakash Chopra observed: “It is an encounter between two sides who lost their first matches. South Africa lost after a great fight but West Indies, the defending champions, we don’t know if they have actually come for the T20 World Cup or have come on a tourist visa to Dubai.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that the West Indies can either post a massive score or get bowled out cheaply.
Aakash Chopra elaborated: “We don’t know which West Indies team will come to play. It is a team which we have been repeatedly saying that if they score can make 225 runs and if not, they won’t make even 125 and that is what happened in the last match – they made 55 in total.”
Apart from their loss against England, West Indies suffered reversals in both their warm-up encounters as well. They batted extremely cautiously in these matches against Pakistan and Afghanistan and never brought their dominant side to the fore.
Afghanistan combined a belligerent batting performance with tight bowling to stomp to a shocking 56-run win against a somewhat lethargic 2016 T20I WC defending champions West Indies in both teams’ second and final warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2021. In their first warm-up game, Pakistan brushed defending champions West Indies aside, crushing Kieron Pollard’s side with seven wickets with 27 balls to spare.
Aakash Chopra: West Indies Collected A Team Of Aged Men
Aakash Chopra also stated that the West Indies do not have a youthful side as the selectors picked more experienced and aged cricketers like Chris Gayle (41), Lendl Simmons (36), Dwayne Bravo (37), and Ravi Rampaul (37).
Aakash Chopra pointed out: “It was reeking of arrogance at some stage. It looked like every guy was saying that runs will get scored, we are the champions and play T20 very easily. They have collected a team of aged men, which has Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle – they have been playing for such a long time. Even if you see Lendl Simmons.”
The 44-year-old reckons the 2016 defending champions West Indies will have an uphill task against South Africa.
Aakash Chopra explained:”You might give them a chance again if they play in a bold and carefree fashion. If the professionalism, processes and everything else that goes right, I feel South Africa will trouble them because they will push them to the back foot with their bowling.”
