'Scary Thought': Irfan Pathan Throws Colossal BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION Warning To Rohit Sharma Ahead Of T20 WC

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan is terrified by the thought of Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs batting together for South Africa in the final five overs of the T20 World Cup 2024. Stubbs and Klaasen have been named in South Africa's squad in the T20 World Cup. The destructive batters will head to the gala event with ruthless form behind them.

Klaasen has been ruthless for SRH in IPL 2024, scoring 339 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 186.26, including 31 sixes. Meanwhile, Stubbs has been unstoppable for Delhi Capitals, scoring 318 runs, with 22 sixes. The DC stalwart has scored a staggering 202 runs in the overs between 16 and 20 at a strike rate of 252 this season.

Irfan took to X and wondered how much destruction the pair could cause if batting together in the final five overs in the T20 World Cup. South Africa have not won an ICC event but they will head into the tournament as one of the favourites for the title. South Africa will play Sri Lanka on June 3, followed by Bangladesh on June 8. They will take on the Netherlands on June 10 and Nepal on June 14. The Aiden Markram-led side need to finish in the top 2 to qualify for the Super 8s.

Along with South Africa, India will also enter the tournament as one of the favourites. The squad for the Indian cricket team was announced recently and it received mixed reviews. Questions were raised on the selection of Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya over Rinku Singh while a few raised concerns about India's pace attack which looks over-reliant on Jasprit Bumrah.

Irfan Pathan was among the many who slammed the selectors for picking Hardik Pandya.

"Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains. Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya's performance consistency and commitment to Indian cricket," Star Sports quoted Pathan as saying.

"Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player's return. But then, there's this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements," he added.

He also questioned Hardik Pandya's appointment as vice-captain for the mega event.

"That shouldn't happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment. Cricket isn't like tennis; it's a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally. Regardless of whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost. I've witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket-instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable," he added.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs