'This WC will heavily rely on openers as they have to set the tone'
One of Pakistan's finest opening batsmen, Aamer Sohail reckons that the 2015 ICC World Cup will heavily rely on openers, adding that good starts will be crucial for any team's success in World Cup.
The chief selector of the Pakistan cricket team said it will be challenging for opening batsmen, across teams, to perform under new rules on fast and bouncy pitches of Australia and New Zealand.
"I think this WC will heavily rely on openers as they have to set the tone. It is not going to be easy for them on fast and bouncy pitches of Australia and New Zealand and they have to face two new balls under the new rules. It will be very challenging for batters," Sohail told PTI Bhasha in an interview from Karachi.
When asked which team has the best opening combination in the tournament, Sohail said, "Australia and South Africa have best opening pairs and they are in form as well".
The dangerous David Warner and Aaron Finch will open for Australia, while South Africa will rely on Hashim Amla and Quinton De Cock to open the innings.
Sohail, who along with Saeed Anwar formed one of the best opening combinations for Pakistan in the early and mid-’90s, also feels that it will be difficult for subcontinent teams to make it to the last four this time.
"I feel that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will be top contenders for the semi-final while fourth team could be England. It will be tough for sub continental teams to reach last four this time considering the current form, bowling attack and conditions. India can make it provided their bowling clicks," he said.
Sohail also said that he is amused by India's decision to include two left-arm spinners in the squad.
"I don't think it is a wise decision to take two left-arm spinners to Australia. They should have picked one right arm leg spinner," said Sohail, who has scored 4780 runs in 156 ODIs in his international career.
Sohail, who was one of the heroes of Pakistan's 1992 title triumph, scoring 326 runs in 10 matches, also expressed concern over growing injury list in the Pakistan squad but said that the team still has enough depth in bowling and can spring a surprise at the World Cup.
Pakistan has already been forced to make two replacements to their World Cup squad with Junaid Khan first being replaced by Rahat Ali and then Muhammad Hafeez making way for out-of-form opener, Nasir Jamshed.
The latest player to suffer a fitness problem is fast bowler, Sohail Khan who has developed a calf muscle strain after bowling just six overs in the warm-up game against Bangladesh.
"Pakistan has fitness issues but still our bowling is good and if they restrict opposition under 250- 260, they can turn it around," he said.
India and Pakistan will open their campaign against each other on February 15. India has a cent per cent win record against Pakistan in World Cup but Sohail said that past records don't matter.
"The Indian team will be under more pressure to perform while Pakistan has nothing to lose. Last year in the Asia Cup also India were favourites but we beat them in that league match. So past records don't matter in a new game," he said.
Pakistan had defeated India by one wicket in the Asia Cup match played on March 2 last year.
"Mindset will be the key and captains have to encourage their bowlers to take wickets as it will be the only way to restrict them. Whoever handles the pressure well, will win," he said.
