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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pata" data-source="post: 315800" data-attributes="member: 2136">KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is backing 1996 champions Sri Lanka to regain the World Cup in the Caribbean but believes that his injury-plagued home team also has the firepower to go all the way in the 16-nation contest.“My personal favourite for the world title is Sri Lanka. They are a good, mature side with solid chances of winning the trophy in the West Indies,” the legendary fast bowler told reporters here on Monday.Wasim, who was a hero of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph in Australia, said that this year’s tournament which gets underway from March 13 is wide open with several teams in with a chance to win the crown.“Australia are most people’s favourite and they are no doubt still a very tough side,” he said. Speaking on Pakistan’s chances, Wasim said that the Greenshirts would suffer if key strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif are unable to play in the World Cup.Shoaib and Asif are grappling with fitness worries and also have to clear a tricky dope test to retain their places on Pakistan’s 15-man squad. Wasim said that excluding the two bowlers would be a difficult decision for Pakistan but added that they should opt for players who are fully fit.He backed the decision to include leg spinner Danish Kaneria in the squad saying that he can play a vital role in Pakistan’s World Cup campaign. “You got to have bowlers in you line-up with wicket-taking abilities and Kaneria is one such players. I am happy that better sense prevailed and Kaneria is in our team,” he added.He was surprised at Pakistan’s decision to ignore comeback all-rounder Azhar Mahmood for the crucial assignment saying that the experienced player can be very useful in the World Cup. “Azhar has a lot of experience and more importantly, he is a fighter. You need such players in major events like the World Cup,” he said.Azhar has been retained by Pakistan as a reserve player and is expected to go to the Caribbean in case Shoaib and Asif are dropped. Wasim expects Pakistani batsmen to do well in West Indian conditions but feared that Inzamam-ul-Haq’s men could be let down by their below average fielding.</blockquote>

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