With the ODI World Cup 2023 fast approaching, cricket enthusiasts around the world are gearing up for a thrilling spectacle. The marquee tournament will kickstart on October 5th in India, with an opening match between last edition’s finalists, England and New Zealand, in the opening match.
With the global tournament just around the corner, fans and experts are taking the stage to predict the standout players and are naming their favorite teams to win the tournament. The latest one to join the bandwagon is one of cricket’s most iconic figures, Viv Richards from the West Indies, who has predicted the leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023.
Viv Richards Predicts The Leading Wicket-Taker In ODI World Cup 2023
The West Indies legend is known for his unparalleled contributions to the game of cricket. In a video shared on ICC’s official Instagram handle, Richards picked a rising star from Pakistan as his leading wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023.
Richards has picked none other hand Pakistan’s sensational pacer Shaheen Afridi. Highlighting the exceptional performances and incredible rise in the international level of the Pakistan pacer, Richards said:
“The leading wicket-taker in the World Cup will be Shaheen Afridi because I have seen him in Pakistan. I spent some time in the PSL and I have seen his massive growth. [He is a] highly determined individual. He is my man.”
Shaheen Shah Afridi will be leading Pakistan’s attack in the World Cup. A knee injury had kept the pacer away from action after the T20 World Cup last year. After being away from action for a long time, Shaheen is now enjoying a good show since returning to action in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023.
Ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023, Shaheen Afridi will be seen in action in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which is being jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30 to September 17.
