Wasim tips India, Pakistan for World T20

Famed Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram tipped India and Pakistan on Wednesday as joint favourites to win the World Twenty20, saying the sub-continental giants have the talent and passion to triumph.

Pakistan will defend their title in the third edition of the World Twenty20, which starts in the West Indies on Friday. India won the first edition held in South Africa in 2007. Wasim said both India and Pakistan are eager to win.

"Pakistan have been starved of cricket, so they have the thirst to win the title again," Wasim told AFP before leaving for New Delhi where he is booked as an expert television commentator the World Twenty20.

Wasim said Pakistan have a leader in Shahid Afridi. "You need someone like Afridi as captain in Twenty20 cricket. He has aggression needed in a leader and in a short Twenty20 match he will always sparkle," said Wasim, a member of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup winning team.

He said Pakistan can rise to the occasion despite being short on international cricket. "Pakistan has played very limited international cricket and their players were not in the Indian league, then they have off-field problems resulting in bans, but whenever there is a World Cup Pakistani players rise to the occasion.

"Look at the available talent, Afridi can single-handedly win a Twenty20 match as he is equally lethal with bat and ball, and then the depth in bowling makes Pakistan favourites."

Wasim said India was also eager to win. KARACHI, Friday (AFP) -