ICC World Cup 2019: Eoin Morgan calls Pakistan second or third favorites to win the tournament

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is on the horizon and teams are nearing to finalize their squads for the mega 50-over event. The tournament is going to be hosted in England and Wales, and given that, England is considered to be the favorites to win the tournament for the first time.

The Eoin Morgan-led side is the no.1 ranked ODI team in ICC ODI team rankings and one of the most dominant teams in the format at the moment. However, captain Eoin Morgan has given a surprising statement saying that Pakistan, who they will face in a five-match ODI series shortly, are second or third favorites to win the tournament as well.

Pakistan has played well in England in past, says Morgan

Eoin Morgan will be leading England for the second time in the World Cups after the 2015 debacle. The team has seen a tremendous turnaround and with two world record highest ODI totals under their belt, England is seen a big favorite, along with no.2 ranked Indian team.

However, Pakistan was the last team to win an ICC even in England, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, where they defeated England in the semi-finals and then went on to defeat arch-rivals India in the finals. Since then, however, their fortunes have seen a downward spiral, as they have lost ODI series against Australia recently, where they were whitewashed.

Morgan tweeted, Eoin Morgan “Pakistan are probably second or third favourites for the World Cup. They hold the Champions Trophy and played extremely well to win that in England and we’re all looking forward to the series against Pakistan before the World Cup” #EngvPak #CWC19”

Eoin Morgan "Pakistan are probably second or third favourites for the World Cup. They hold the Champions Trophy and played extremely well to win that in England and we’re all looking forward to the series against Pakistan before the World Cup" #EngvPak #CWC19

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) April 14, 2019

At the moment, Morgan said that they are focused on their 19-man squad, which will be trimmed to final 15 men after the ODI series against Pakistan coming May.

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