'I think I’m going to go with Pakistan' - Nathan Lyon backs Men in Green to reach T20 World Cup 2024 final

Anticipation surrounds the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, slated to commence on June 1. It has been compounded by an unexpected upset in the warm-up matches and substantial apprehensions regarding security measures after a terror threat.

Meanwhile, distinguished Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon revealed his preference for the tournament's finalists. While favoring his homeland, Australia, Lyon candidly acknowledged his partiality, based on obvious reasons. However, he diverged from conventional expectations by nominating Pakistan as his pick for the final berth, neglecting the anticipated prominence of cricketing giants such as India or England.

Substantiating his selection, Lyon cited the prevailing dry and sluggish conditions in the West Indies, underscoring the consequential advantage conferred upon adept spinners like Abrar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, and Shadab Khan. Moreover, Lyon underscored the formidable presence of accomplished batters such as Babar Azam among Pakistan's ranks, emphasizing their proficiency in negotiating spin, thereby bolstering his assertion. 

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“For the T20 finals team, Australia obviously because I’m quite biased towards them. I think I’m going to go with Pakistan. In those conditions, quality spin bowlers, but also electric batters like Babar Azam,” stated Lyon in a video shared by Prime Video Sport. 

Lyon foresees record-breaking feat as well as best player of the tournament

It has been widely acknowledged and substantiated by the recent culmination of IPL 2024 that the tournament provided an unparalleled platform for batters, who exhibited an aggressive and relentless onslaught, overpowering bowlers consistently.

Congruently, he opined that this prevailing approach and trend will persist and carry over into the forthcoming 20-over World Cup. He asserted that the possibility of witnessing a new record for the highest score in this tournament is quite plausible.

Extending his well-wishes to Mitchell Marsh, the captain of the Australian T20I squad, he predicted that the dynamic all-rounder would excel, leveraging his adept power-hitting prowess, particularly given the relatively small dimensions of most venues and the prevalent cross-winds. Additionally, Lyon foresaw Marsh making significant contributions with the ball as well, utilizing his skillfulness in deploying a variety of variations.

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“I think early on in the tournament, we may see the highest score in T20s. I’m going to go, Mitchell Marsh, I think the power that he has with the bat and also the skill he has with the ball in hand as well. So, go well Mitch," added Lyon.