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NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s talented pacer Naseem Shah has shared his thoughts on the upcoming T20 World Cup, the importance of fans in modern cricket and the value of team bonding in franchise leagues.
In a conversation with Sports Yaari, Naseem was asked to predict the top four teams for the T20 World Cup. The pacer admitted that making such calls in today’s competitive landscape is never straightforward, given the depth and quality across sides.
“It’s very difficult to predict the top four right now because every team that comes to the World Cup is strong. In the end, the teams that play the best cricket will go through. If I had to pick four, though, I’d say Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and India.”
‘Cricket Is Beautiful Because of the Fans’
Naseem also underlined the role fans play in making cricket special, drawing from his experiences in global leagues.
“Cricket is beautiful because of the fans. You see supporters coming in to back their players and their teams, and that is what makes the game special. My message is simple — keep supporting us wherever we play. It is because of that support that we push ourselves to entertain and give our best every time.”
On the Viral Marathi Video
When asked about the viral video in which he was heard speaking Marathi, Naseem explained the context behind it, linking it to the multicultural nature of modern franchise teams and the camaraderie within the dressing room.
“Our team has players from all over the world. When you spend so much time together, you naturally start learning from each other. They enjoy picking up a bit of our language, and we learn from them too. That is how it works in a team — you bond, you get along, and you make the effort to understand one another.”
ILT20 Title Glory with Desert Vipers
Naseem’s comments come on the back of a memorable ILT20 season, where he was part of the Desert Vipers side that clinched the title this year.
The Pakistani pacer played a crucial role in the championship-winning campaign, finishing with 12 wickets in eight matches and delivering key spells under pressure.
