Veteran Australia cricketer Brad Hogg has stated that if Pakistan team loses their first Super 12 match against India on October 24, they may not be able to recapture their momentum and go to the semi-finals.
The high-octane match has sparked a lot of interest, with analysts claiming that Pakistan can defeat India if they play their cards properly, while others claiming that Virat Kohli’s squad is the favourite under the current circumstances.
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In an interview with Deep Dasgupta on his YouTube channel, the former Australian cricketer stated that if Kohli’s team beats Babar Azam’s team, they would easily advance to the semi-finals, as Pakistan, who face New Zealand two days later, will struggle to recover.
“If Pakistan team loses the first game to India, they have a short turnaround before facing New Zealand. That, I believe, will be a major determining factor in whether Pakistan passes or fails. I don’t think Pakistan will advance if they lose the first game to India; I believe India will. So keep an eye on that area,” he said.
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Both India and Pakistan are in the semi-finals, according to the veteran spinner. He went on to say that the two teams from Group 2 would go to the semi-finals, while West Indies and England would advance from Group 1.
“From Group 1, I believe England and the West Indies will go to the semis, and from Group 2, I believe Pakistan and India will,” the former spinner said.
