Dubai: Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels India and Pakistan have multiple match winners and it will be a surprise if both the teams do not come close to qualifying for the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC).

The race for the top 2 position has intensified

The final of the current WTC cycle is scheduled to be played next year. And the race for a place in the top two places in the league table is intensified. Last season’s runners-up India will host Australia for four of their six remaining WTC matches. While the remaining two will be against Bangladesh. On the other hand, Pakistan has to play all its remaining five matches at home.

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Shane Watson told the ICC Review

Shane Watson told ‘The ICC Review’, “You can never consider India and Pakistan out of the race because they have too many match-winners away from home.” “I would be surprised if they both don’t come close to qualifying for the finals,” he said.

At the moment d. Africa and Australia are on top

Currently, South Africa and Australia occupy the top two positions in the WTC table. It is followed by Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. When Shane Watson was asked to predict the two teams that would make the final, he said, “The way I see it right now, South Africa and Australia are strong contenders.” They are both playing really good cricket. Australia played good cricket apart from that last Test against Sri Lanka. Where they were bowled out in spin-friendly conditions in the last innings.

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Shane Watson regrets not playing in World Test Championship

Shane Watson, who played 59 Tests for Australia, regrets that the WTC started late. He said, ‘Yes, I wish I had played in it (WTC). Even during my playing days there was a lot of discussion about the introduction of ICC World Test Championship in Test cricket. It took a very long time to implement and unfortunately I missed it.’

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Special participation in Super Test in the year 2005

Shane Watson said, ‘I was very fortunate to have played the ‘Super Test’ against the World XI in Australia in 2005 which was very special. It was one of the first Test matches I played. “It was special to be a part of it but it is even bigger. Winning an ICC event and that too in Test cricket,” he said.