T20 World Cup 2022 is down to its final match, the one that matters the most. Following a month of action in Australia that included several close games. The 2009 champions Pakistan, who managed to pull off a huge comeback in Australia, will take on the 2010 champions England.
As England defeated India by 10 wickets in the semifinals to advance to their third final. Cricket legends Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar addressed their predictions for the big game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday during their conversation at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2022.
Predictions by Sachin Tendulkar & Brian Lala
Lara and Sachin were each asked to predict who would win the Melbourne final prior to the game. Due to the size of the MCG, Sachin supported England while Lara chose Pakistan.
Also Read: The T20 World Cup Final Trophy ‘might be shared’ as a result of rain forecast
“I think Pakistan has the better team in terms of individual players. England has played very well structured cricket but I would like to see the trophy stay in Asia”. Lara said said during his conversation.
“I think looking at the ground dimensions, it’s got to be England. I differ a little bit. yes, the momentum is with Pakistan. they are kind of peaking at the right time but maybe England might get them to play square of the wicket where in Melbourne, the boundaries are longer.
The straighter boundaries are short. Each ground’s dimension is different. In Adelaide you have short square boundaries and reasonably longer straight boundaries. So I have this feeling that upfront the new ball they will get to swing and later on, they will go short of length forcing them to play square of the ground,” Sachin added.
The T20 World Cup final has all the thrill
After a shocking loss to Zimbabwe in their tournament opener, Pakistan was on the verge of elimination. They started the game against South Africa, which they had to win, down 43 for 4. But the Men in Green did not simply recover from that loss. They also won their following two games before defeating New Zealand to advance to the semifinals.
England, on the other hand, was defeated by Ireland in a rain-shortened game and was forced to rely on a net run rate to advance. In the semifinals, the opening pair of Alex Hales and Jos Buttler gave the India attack no quarter as they put together a record 170-run partnership in their journey to a 10-run victory.
