Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has spoken out in support of India’s cricket team despite their recent struggles in International World events. In a recent interview, Akmal went as far as to suggest that teams like New Zealand and South Africa should be banned from World tournaments if winning the trophy is the only bar to entering these events. He said that no team can win every World event.
India’s last World championship win was in 2013 with the Champions Trophy, under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. They have not won a major trophy since then. However, in the last year’s 20-20 World Cup, India made it to the semifinals but was knocked out by the eventual tournament champions, England.
“You can’t win every World event.” – Kamran Akmal
When discussing India’s lack of success in knockout games at major tournaments, Akmal had this to say: “People talk about India having not won an ICC event for 10 years. You can’t win every World event. And if winning a World Championship trophy is the only criterion then teams like New Zealand and South Africa should be banned since they haven’t won any. So this is just a pick. India is a great team and is playing at a different level,”
South Africa has only won one Championship trophy, which was in 1998 with the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy. New Zealand has won two titles, the World Knockout Trophy 2000 and the maiden World Test Championship 2021, under the leadership of Stephen Fleming and Kane Williamson, respectively.
India has won all major international championships, including the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni. India will have the opportunity to add one more title to their list as they will host the upcoming 50-over World Cup in October-November this year. With this home advantage and the support of fans, India may have a chance to rewrite history and claim victory in the tournament.
