Pakistan coach Waqar Younis on Tuesday said that no team can be labelled as favourites in the World T20 due to the unpredictability attached with the format.
Pakistan will open their campaign against Bangladesh, who had shocked them at the recently-concluded Asia Cup T20, and the coach admitted they have to be cautious.
"You play well in the three weeks and win the World Cup," said Waqar Younis ahead of their World T20 opening clash against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
"I will not tag anyone as favourites. Anything is possible in these type of tournaments. If you see in the past WT20s, no favourites have won. Be it India in 2007 or Pakistan in 2009. Sri Lanka or the West Indies. This version is like that," the 44-year-old said.
"Bangladesh are playing really good cricket. We have to be really watchful and come out really strong to beat them.
"Each team deserves to improve. It's good for world cricket and of course for Bangladesh. They're playing really good cricket for last one-two years. We have seen that in the World Cup. They're doing well, we have got to respect that."
"We have plenty of respect for them but this is a big stage, different conditions. We are hopeful and positive to play really good cricket tomorrow (Wednesday)."
The Pakistan team has a devastating bowling lineup in Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Sami and Waqar Younis said they are relying on them to get the desired results.
"Our strength is fast bowling. We will try to bring on three genuine pacers. Bowlers are smart these days. The quality bowlers still have place in T20Is. Pitches are flat here with big scores like 190-200 but they have become smarter. There will be innovation for sure. There will be lot slower ones, lot wide yorkers. People have worked on strengths and weaknesses of other teams. They will be all geared up."
Waqar Younis also hoped that batting friendly conditions in India will prove to be good for them.
"The conditions are different from Bangladesh. Here it's spinner friendly. But when you play good cricket conditions don't matter much. If you look at the Asia Cup, most batters struggled in first six overs. We couldn't really capitalise after losing three-four wickets. We could not really get up."
"Here different conditions. We hope our batters will give us enough runs. Our bowlers will make sure others don't make enough runs. We should make sure that they complement each other."
World T20: There Are No Favourites, Says Pakistan Coach Waqar Younis
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Pakistan open their World T20 campaign against Bangladesh, who had shocked them at the recently-concluded Asia Cup T20, and coach Waqar Younis admitted they have to be cautious.
Waqar Younis feels there are no favourites for the World T20 and felt that anything is possible in the T20 format.© AFP