Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

EXCLUSIVE: India vs Pakistan is pinnacle of white ball cricket, says Monty Panesar

India a force to be reckoned with

I was at the India vs Australia match. India definitely look like they will be the first team to get in the semi finals.


India's batting is so strong. What I like the most is that in the game against South Africa, Rohit Sharma fired and against Australia his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan scored a brilliant century. India's batting is coming to form at the right time. They have options in adjusting the order as well. Against Australia they brought Hardik Pandya up the order at number four to give some acceleration in the last ten overs. And they have big-hitters throughout their line-up. India are capable of batting in the last ten overs like a IPL match and go at more than ten runs an over.

I think India’s wrist spin is going to be huge factor to win the World cup. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are a dynamic duo and will bamboozle a lot of batsmen. Australia struggled against India's wrist spin and you can see Virat Kohli will be using them effectively during the World Cup to take key wickets.

Some people are questioning will two wrist spinners play a big part on English conditions, I would say when the wickets are dry and the sun is shining, the spinners look effective. The wrist spinners are bowling incredibly well but the oval wicket was a used wicket. How would the spinners favour on unhelpful conditions? If I was England I would produce green wickets to stop the wrist spin of India but that would lead to Indian fast bowlers doing well too.

They also have Jasprit Bumrah as the number one bowler in the world. It just completes their bowling attack. Bumrah is rightly considered the best bowler in the world at the moment. He gets his yorkers in and really comes into the batsmen from a high arm action similar to Makhaya Ntini who bowled for South Africa.

As for potential weaknesses, India's lack of lower order depth could be one. They rely heavily on Hardik and MS Dhoni lower down but what will happen if they lose both of them quickly? I don’t think India’s lower order is strong enough to post a huge total if the top order don’t fire. That's why is it refreshing to know the openers are batting well and the top four need to be in good form so the lower order can tee-off in the last ten overs.

Also, if conditions don’t suit the spinners, then they could go the distance and you may see India being vulnerable, especially with some wet weather around this week, it will be interesting to see if conditions don’t suit India how they respond.

Against the weaker oppositions, India should give a chance to other squad members because it is important to give match time be keep the whole squad ready for the bigger games.

My prediction for India is that they should make it out of the group stage and if the conditions favour them, India should make it to the finals.

India vs Pakistan

But before we get to the semi-finals, we have the what I believe is the pinnacle of white ball cricket. Any global tournament we need India vs Pakistan match, it just lights up the tournament. Also with the history between the two countries, sport is way to bring both countries together despite the political tensions.

As for the match itself, India have shown they handle the situation better as they have never lost a World Cup match to their greatest rivals. However, Pakistan did beat India in the Champions Trophy Final, in England, two years ago. If Pakistan are to cause a shock, they will need their big players to stand-up and perform, such as Mohammed Amir who tends to bowl well to the likes of Rohit Sharma and Kohli, but he does needs the conditions to favour swing bowling.

I am going to go for an India victory as I just can't see Pakistan performing unless the conditions are exactly in their favour, which is no guarantee. And even if we do get swinging conditions, then India have their own firepower in that department with Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

No harm in British Asian fans supporting South-Asian teams

A lot has been made of the fact that 40 per cent of World Cup tickets have been sold to South Asian fans, including British Asians, who are actually supporting the likes of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh instead of England. I don’t think it’s bad for the game, British Asian fans supporting the likes of India and Pakistan. This is good for the game, we need people supporting different countries, after all this is a carnival of cricket not a political show!!

Fans are the biggest stake holders in the game. They need to bring colour, glamour. noise and a bit of controversy to add to the masala of World Cup. I really enjoyed interacting with the fans at the BBC Asian network event from Bharat Army (India fans) to Stani Army (Pakistan fans), it's just add spice and colour to the World Cup. I like the diversity of fans supporting their parent country and England too.

Read Monty Panesar's World Cup column every week in Eastern Eye newspaper and easterneye.biz.

More For You

Apollo-BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the new contract with Apollo Tyres runs until March 2028. (Photo: BCCI)

Apollo Tyres replaces Dream11 as Team India’s lead sponsor until 2028

INDIAN cricket has signed Apollo Tyres as its new lead sponsor after fantasy sports platform Dream11 ended its contract following a government ban on online gambling.

The men's team travelled to the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing Asia Cup without a sponsor on their shirts after Dream11 exited the deal, which was worth about $44 million and was set to run until 2026.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tagenarine Chanderpaul,

Tagenarine Chanderpaul. (Photo by PAT HOELSCHER/AFP via Getty Images)

Chanderpaul, Athanaze return as West Indies name squad for India tour

BATSMEN Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze were recalled to the West Indies ranks when they were named in the squad to tour India on Tuesday (16) while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre is included for the first time.

The two-Test series, with matches in Ahmedabad and Delhi, marks the West Indies' first tour to India since 2018 and forms part of the World Test Championship.

Keep ReadingShow less
India vs Pakistan

The PCB had complained to the ICC, alleging that Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav at the toss in Sunday’s Asia Cup match.

Getty Images

ICC rejects PCB request to drop Pycroft from Asia Cup panel

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Pakistan’s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup. The decision came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) blamed the Zimbabwean official for the “no handshake” incident during their game against India and reportedly threatened to pull out of the tournament.

The PCB had complained to the ICC, alleging that Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav at the toss in Sunday’s Asia Cup match.

Keep ReadingShow less
11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport

'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

Highlights:

  • New ‘We Like the Way You Move’ campaign launched by Sport England initiative This Girl Can.
  • Focus on improving representation of South Asian Muslim women in sport and physical activity.
  • Research highlights stark under-representation of women of colour in public sports imagery.
  • Campaign calls on providers to create inclusive, women-only and culturally sensitive spaces.

This Girl Can has unveiled a powerful new campaign spotlighting South Asian Muslim women in sport, aiming to redefine what being active looks like and tackle deep-rooted barriers. The We Like the Way You Move drive, launched by Sport England, uses strong visuals with community-driven storytelling to encourage participation and promote inclusivity. It comes alongside new data exposing how women of colour remain overlooked in public representations of physical activity.

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport www.easterneye.biz

Keep ReadingShow less