“Pakistan has the best winning ratio of all the teams in the Twenty20 cricket, so if they continue to keep that consistency it won’t be difficult to win,” Akram told AFP. “I thought Australia would thrash them in the one-off T20 match in Dubai but it was the other way round and now, if Pakistan play to their potential, they can win the title.”

In the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 Pakistan had finished as runners-up, going down by five runs to India in the final. For next month’s tournament, they are grouped with hosts England and the Netherlands in the initial league phase.

Akram rated Pakistan’s bowling as their strongest suit, and said the batting was the only thing that could let them down. “With Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Shoaib Akhtar, if he is fit and going with the team, Pakistan has the best bowling attack backed by quality spin of Shahid Afridi,” he said. “I am also impressed with the talent of Mohammad Aamer who is nippy and can swing the ball both ways. He could be a revelation in the event.”

Pakistan’s government had barred its country’s players from participating in the IPL, a factor that Akram thinks will work in Pakistan’s favour. “I think Pakistan has played less cricket and will be fresh, while Indian players could be fatigued after playing in the IPL.”

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The domestic Twenty20 winners of West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, as well as Delhi Daredevils, will also get an opportunity to participate in the inaugural Champions Twenty20 League, to be held from October 8-23 in India, just after the Champions Trophy. Lalit Modi, the tournament’s chairman, said the prize money for the tournament will be US$ 6 million, and the draw will be held in London on June 23 after which the venues will be finalised.

Delhi have been included on the basis of having topped the round-robin stage of the 2009 IPL. They will be joined by Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore, the 2009 IPL finalists.

Sialkot Stallions, the winners of Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 tournament, will not feature as originally scheduled because their government has restricted travel to India.

Other 2009 domestic finalists and winners include Victoria and New South Wales (Australia), Cape Cobras and Eagles (South Africa), Otago (New Zealand), Trinidad and Tobago (West Indies) and Wayamba (Sri Lanka). England’s Twenty20 Cup only begins on Monday and the finalists will only be decided on August 25.

Delhi Daredevils this year have highest points from the league. But from next year, the third team from India will be decided from a play-off between the two losing semi-finalists.

The tournament was initially supposed to held from December 3-11 2008 in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore but was put off after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The cancellation came as a huge blow for the teams that qualified for the 2008 edition, as they would have received at least US$250,000 as participating fees. Each team gets a minimum guarantee amount for playing in the tournament.

To read our previous posts on IPL click on the following links.

IPL 2009 – Gethu and Vethu Players

IPL – Resurgence of the Seniors

IPL – Emergence of the Younger Players

IPL Semifinal 2

IPL Semifinal 1

IPL Semifinals Preview

Vagaries of the IPL

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So here it goes…

World Economy – Vethu

Beijing Olympics – Gethu

Michael Phelps – Over-Gethu

Mumbai Terror Attacks – Vethu

Indian Olympic Medallists – Gethu

Barack Obama – Gethu

Indian IT Industry – Vethu

Rise of Indian Cricket – Gethu

SENSEX – Vethu

Usain Bolt – Gethu

Indian Politicians – Vethu (they always are i guess)

Tiger Woods – Gethu

Bush Shoe Attack – Gethu

Decline of Australian Cricket – Gethu

and there were many more Gethu and Vethu incidents of 2008 which didn’t appear here due to the a special reason.

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