Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has suggested that Indian spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav may emerge as the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup 2023.
In the tournament so far, Kuldeep has taken five wickets in three matches at an average of 23.40. His standout performance came in India’s dominant seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14, where he claimed two wickets for 35 runs, dismissing Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed in the 33rd over.
Latif, in his column for The Indian Express, noted that Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled against Kuldeep, and he opined that if Kuldeep continues to play without resting, he could become the top wicket-taker in the competition.
Regarding senior Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has had limited appearances in the World Cup, Latif expressed surprise at his non-selection and believed that Ashwin’s inclusion in the Indian bowling attack could have made a significant difference for Pakistan. He mentioned that Ashwin’s presence could have prevented Pakistan from scoring a higher total.
Rashid Latif characterized Pakistan’s batting approach as outdated, highlighting the absence of specialized batsmen in their lineup.
“The current ODI strategy employed by Pakistan appears to be outdated. It seems like we’re adhering to the traditional approach of preserving wickets until the 40th over and then shifting our focus to the final ten overs. The landscape of the game has evolved, yet we appear to be stuck in the past. The team isn’t adapting to the modern style of cricket, and there’s a noticeable lack of specialists or unique talents within the playing eleven,” remarked the former Pakistan captain.
