India or Pakistan will win T20 world title in England: Lara

Port of Spain, Mar 16 (PTI) West Indies batting great
Brian Lara predicted either India or Pakistan, because of
their batting depth and ability to innovate, will lift the
ICC World Twenty20 title in England later this year.

The former West Indies captain displayed the trophy to a
packed house at the Queen's Park Oval during the interval of
the Twenty20 International between the West Indies and
admitted it was tough to pick a side that might do the same on
June 21 June at Lord's, England.

But if he had to choose a likely winner, the batting
legend said India and Pakistan -- finalists in the inaugural
event in 2007 -- might be the ones to look out for.

"In 2007 I supported the West Indies (to win) due to the
fact that, as a team, we may have been short in Test cricket
but very good over a shorter game and twenty20 was a version
of the game, with players like Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan
and Dwayne Bravo, I thought we would love. But then Bangladesh
came and beat us and we didn't win a match so that shows how
difficult it is to predict.

"A team like India or Pakistan, accustomed to good
batting tracks, flat tracks and capable of being very
innovative could be the ones to walk away with the trophy,"
said Lara.

Holder of the highest score in international history
thanks to his 400 not out in a Test against England in Antigua
in 2004, Lara said he still loved Test cricket above all the
other formats of the game but felt there was an obvious place
for the Twenty20 version.

"I'm still a connoisseur of Test cricket as the true test
of any sportsman. But I think Twenty20 cricket is a great
invention, especially for the spectator. It's a great addition
to the game and I look forward to seeing the ICC World
Twenty20," said the elegant left-hander.

The ICC World Twenty20 will feature 12 of the top men's
teams and the top eight women's teams competing in a
best-of-the-best event at four venues -– Lord's, The Oval,
Trent Bridge and Taunton (women's matches only).

Each of the men's and women's semi-finals and the finals
will be played as double-headers at the same venues offering
great value to spectators and great exposure to the women's
game. PTI AY