AGENCIES

Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi is excited that the American public will witness cricket’s equivalent of the Super Bowl in New York on Sunday when archrivals Pakistan and India face off in a blockbuster T20 World Cup clash.

Comparing it to the famous Super Bowl, Afridi, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 ambassador, said that America’s cricket-loving crowd will witness the ‘greatest cricketing rivalry’.

“For those Americans discovering the tournament, they should know that Pakistan’s game against India is like our Super Bowl,” Afridi wrote in his column for the ICC. “I used to absolutely love playing India and I really believe it is the biggest rivalry in sport.

“Against India, it is about handling the pressure of the occasion. There is so much talent in both teams, they just need to put it together on the day.

“People are going to love the support in the States. There is a great expat community over there which absolutely loves cricket.

“And the Americans absolutely love their sport, whether it is American football, basketball or baseball. I really believe that cricket will hit the mainstream over there in the next few years.”

While he refused to pick any favourites from the India-Pakistan contest, he backed the Men in Green to overcome their recent indifferent form and bring their A-game out during the tournament.