Ganguly’s striking ‘IPL’ remark in comparing India, Pakistan’s World Cup run | Cricket

India and Pakistan have incurred extremely contrasting journeys at the 2023 World Cup. India still remain the only unbeaten side in the tournament, where they have won all eight of their league games to qualify for the semifinal for the fourth straight time. Pakistan, on the other hand, lost five of their league games, the first time ever at a single World Cup edition, which included an array of four straight losses, to finish fifth in the points table. This was the third straight time in 11 years that Pakistan failed to make the semifinals of a World Cup. (India vs Netherlands Live Score, Cricket World Cup 2023)

Among the other teams that have qualified for the semifinals – Australia, South Africa and New Zealand – most players credited their IPL experience in adapting to the conditions in India for the ODI World Cup. However, the players of Pakistan have been devoid of that experience. In fact, only two players in the Pakistan’s World Cup squad had the experience of playing in India before. But former India captain Sourav Ganguly doesn’t believe lack of IPL experience as the sole reason behind Pakistan’s dismal show at the World Cup.

Speaking to Pakistan channel A Sports, Ganguly, in comparing the World Cup campaigns of India and Pakistan, credited the Indian domestic culture as the reason behind the team having a large pool of talented players to pick from. He also emphasised on the need for players to be part of the longer format more than playing just T20 cricket across the globe, which he feels leads to mediocrity.

“IPL not the sole reason for India’s success in international cricket. Quality cannot come from playing only IPL, quality comes from playing 4-day, 5-day cricket. If you play more T20 cricket, you will remain mediocre. I always say that play T20s, make money from T20s but if you want to be a player, you have to play 4-day, 5-day cricket,” Ganguly explained.

“Players should be like Wasim Akram, who could bowl 25-30 overs in a day. He was fast with the new ball and with the old ball as well. I think not only IPL, but the entire Indian cricketing infrastructure is incredible. There are so many matches, so many players and we are lucky in that way,” the former BCCI president further added.

The legendary batter also added explained how cricket has become a more stable career option in India over the last few years and credited BCCI for directing the cash flow into the right direction.

“Money is used in the right direction, they are used on the players. First-class cricket has seen an incredible pay rise. The first-class cricketers play cricket from September to March and then 2 months of IPL. And I think it is because of this system that the team is so strong. And of course the match security,” Ganguly explained.

“There is a lot of talent in your country too. I keep hearing about it. The country that has Shaheen Shah Afridi, the team that has Rizwan, Babar, and Imam could be great if some specific changes are made,” Ganguly concluded.