Salman Butt highlighted how most teams will be accustomed to the conditions in the UAE, with the second phase of the IPL 2021 set to take place there in September-October before the marquee T20 World Cup.
With the T20 World Cup being shifted to the UAE from India, many experts of the cricket fraternity suggest that Pakistan will have a good chance of winning the tournament as the Middle East country was their home ground for several years due to the Sri Lanka bus terrorist attack in 2009 and security issues.
Salman Butt: India And Top International Players Playing In IPL 2021 At UAE Will Be Accustomed To The Conditions
Salman Butt explained that the Indian players, along with other key international T20 specialists, will have a fair idea of the kind of pitches and conditions to expect in the UAE following their IPL 2021 experience. The former Pakistan batsman said on his YouTube channel that since IPL will take place before the T20 World Cup at the same venues, all players participating in the extravagant league will be confident of a good show.
“IPL will also take place before the World Cup, so Indian players will also play there. All the top international players they will also be part of the IPL.
“So everybody will have a fair idea regarding the kind of pitches, gameplan and average scores. So everybody will be accustomed to the conditions. Even if the World Cup had taken place in India, the conditions there are similar to that in Pakistan.”
The T20 World Cup was set to be hosted by India. However, given the health and safety concerns due to the ongoing raging COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCI has now officially decided to move the tournament to the UAE and Oman.
Salman Butt Believes Pakistan Can Win For Playing A Lot Of Cricket In The UAE And The Remaining Leg Of PSL 2021
Salman Butt believes Pakistan has a good chance of winning or reaching the finals of the T20 World Cup, given the conditions that will be on offer in the UAE are expected to assist spinners. However, the former tainted batsman also added that teams with good fast bowlers will also be a threat in the competition.
Pakistan played their home games in the UAE for several years as they were barred from hosting matches in their own country amidst security concerns by Test-playing nations after a terrorist attack on Sri Lankan players in 2009.
Butt explained: “Pakistan has played a lot of cricket in the UAE, and the remaining leg of the PSL was also played there. Pakistan is in with a good chance because spin bowlers come into play. But if we get pitches like we did in Abu Dhabi, then whichever team has better fast bowlers they too will come into action. Fast bowlers who can hit good length can create a lot of trouble.”
Salman Butt further highlighted how the top wicket-takers in the PSL were fast bowlers. Out of the top six wicket-takers in PSL 2021, five were pacers. Mohammad Nawaz (6 wickets, SR 26.00, Eco 7.50), Hasan Ali (13 wickets, SR 18.38, Eco 6.75), Shaheen Afridi (16 wickets, SR 15.00, Eco. 7.30), and Shahnawaz Dahani (20 wickets, SR 12.10, Eco. 8.42) were the standout performers in the recently concluded PSL 2021.
Between 2009 and 2016, Pakistan’s home matches have been mostly held in the United Arab Emirates. However, due to the increase in security and comparatively fewer terrorist attacks, many teams have toured Pakistan since 2015.
These teams include Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, South Africa, and an ICC World XI team, with England scheduled to tour in October 2021.