Mumbai: Former India pacer Zaheer Khan backed the Indian team to win the forthcoming World Twenty20 at home . He feels India will use the subcontinental conditions to good effect and emerge victorious in the tournament in March 2016. Zaheer was speaking at a promotional event in Mumbai .
The tournament will be staged across eight venues in India starting on March 8 , with the final slated to take place at Eden Gardens on April 3.
India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia are placed in Group 2 while South Africa, England, the West Indies and defending champions Sri Lanka are in Group 1.
Hosts India will start their campaign against New Zealand on March 15 in Nagpur . India will play against Pakistan in Dharamsala on March 19, followed by a qualifying team in the group on March 23 and Australia in Mohali on March 27.
According to Zaheer ,“ The familiar conditions in the sub-continent will work to India’s advantage . Spin will play a big factor in World T20 . India will start as favourites in the tournament ”
Zaheer, an invitee at the event to extend the sponsorship tie-up between the ICC and MoneyGram for eight more years, said the dynamic nature of the Twenty20 format have ended up rubbing on to the ODIs as well.
“There have been lot of changes which add excitement to the game. There have been a lot of innovations from the batters. On the whole the game has become dynamic. The impact of T20 can be seen in ODIs as well as in Test matches,” said the 37-year-old Zaheer who has retired after playing 92 Tests and 200 ODIs.
“Playing in the (ICC Cricket) World Cup is special.
It’s right up there as in your career you play very few World Cups. Playing in front of the home crowd and winning it in 2011 makes it something special,” said the former bowler who was part of the triumphant Indian team that won the World Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium here in 2011.