‘J&K players did well during IPL’
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 30: Former Australian Cricketer and renowned coach, Dav Whatmore today shared his insights on the top contenders for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, underlining India’s advantageous position as potential champions.
Speaking to the media during an event here, Whatmore pointed out that the host nation, India, has a strong advantage in the upcoming tournament. Additionally, he identified England and Australia as formidable favourites and stern competitors in the competition.
Whatmore who has coached cricket teams of many countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan remarked, “The host country, India, has a significant advantage; the defending champions, England, also possess a strong chance, given their strengthened squad. Australia boasts an excellent track record in World Cup Cricket, performing well in all conditions. They are expected to be formidable contenders.”
As for the fourth potential champion, Whatmore noted that New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka could be contenders. He emphasized, “New Zealand has reached the finals on the last two occasions, making them a formidable team to beat.”
Reflecting on his visit to Kashmir, Whatmore expressed his pleasure at being in the region, lauding both the people and the pleasant weather. He commented, “It is a wonderful time to be here, just before winters.”
Regarding the cricketing talent in J&K, he praised the J&K team’s performance in the T20 format, highlighting their impressive skills. “They have some outstanding talent, and we’ve also seen some J&K players excelling in the IPL,” he stated.
Whatmore humbly mentioned that his two visits to the Valley didn’t grant him authority to assess the acumen of J&K players.
However, he commended the J&K team’s achievements. “I can tell you that I coached a team against J&K last year, and they defeated us. They are a strong side, particularly in the short format of the game. It appears that the work being done by the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) is yielding positive results, and I anticipate more successes from them,” he concluded.
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