Pakistan Legends are determined to defeat their West Indian counterparts in today’s semi-final and advance in the 2024 World Legends Championship (WCL), according to all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
“All the players are focused on winning the semi-final and reaching the final […] fans will be in for a great show if Pakistan vs India happens,” Afridi remarked.
During the group stage, Pakistan, led by Younis Khan, showcased strong performances, winning four out of five matches. They secured notable victories against Australia, India, West Indies, and England, but faced a defeat against South Africa in their last group match.
Pacer Sohail Tanvir, who rested for two matches, confirmed his full fitness for the upcoming finals.
Pakistan’s batsmen also demonstrated promising form, with Sharjeel Khan (209 runs) and Shoaib Malik (204 runs) ranking among the tournament’s top-five scorers. Sohaib Maqsood (182 runs) is another Pakistani batsman in the top-ten run-getters list.
Meanwhile, West Indies, led by Daren Sammy, won two out of their five group matches, securing a semi-final spot due to a better Net Run Rate (NRR) compared to South Africa.
West Indies started their campaign with a 55-run loss against Australia but bounced back with consecutive wins over England and South Africa. However, they faced defeats in their last two matches against India and Pakistan.
Pakistan enters the match as favorites, but with players like Chris Gayle, Sammy, Dwayne Smith, and others, West Indies could pose a serious challenge to the Pakistani bowlers.
Squads
Pakistan Champions: Younis Khan (c), Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Aamer Yamin, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Yasir Arafat, Taufeeq Umar
West Indies Champions: Chris Gayle, Daren Sammy, Samuel Badree, Tino Best, Rayad Emrit, Jason Mohammed, Navin Stewart, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Sulieman Benn, Chadwick Walton, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Jonathan Carter