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Follow UsRicky Ponting, who has been involved in T20 setups around the world, including coaching the Delhi Capitals has predicted the hosts Australia and one of the pre-tournament favourites, India to clash in the upcoming T20 World Cup final.
"I think India and Australia will be the two playing in the final and I will just have to say that Australia will beat them in the final," Ponting declared on the latest episode of ICC Review.
Prior to that, Ponting also credited the Australian setup, stating that their win in the Middle East was impressive. The former Australian skipper also insisted that he was impressed by the Australian show in the Middle East, praising them for overcoming the conditions.
"The reigning champions have got home conditions and that was one thing that made Australia’s win in the last World Cup, not remarkable, but that little bit sweeter for them.
"The fact that a lot of people, me included, thought when they went to UAE, the conditions that they were going to have to face on the back of the IPL, I thought the conditions might have been the thing that might not have allowed them to win it.
"But they found a way."
Ponting on England and Pakistan
While Ponting applauded the Pakistani unit, he opined that England could be the third-team that could challenge the duopoly of India and Australia in the shortest format.
"I actually think England are an outstanding white-ball team and they have an outstanding white-ball setup," Ponting said.
"I just think the three teams on paper that look to have most class and the most match-winners are India, Australia and England."
On Pakistan, the now DC coach put the onus on Babar Azam, opining that if he can’t score, Pakistan will have a tough time.
"If Babar doesn’t have a great tournament, I don’t think they can win. Their (Pakistan) openers are very important and their new-ball bowlers are very important, but that role of the spin bowler in Australia might be a little bit more difficult with wickets that probably won’t give them assistance."
