Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has picked India as his favourites for the 2019 ICC World Cup to be held in England.

Akram, who is one of the most legendary bowlers ever produced by Pakistan, believes the Men in Green will be among one of the contenders for the crown in England but has rated India’s chances as brighter.

“Among the teams that are involved in the cricket World Cup, Pakistan have always been an outfit that people loved to watch and follow. You can never write them off. India look firm favourites for me,” the Pakistan icon wrote in his column for the Times of India.

“New Zealand are the dark horses, but Pakistan are right up there,” he added.

Having captured the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England against all odds, Pakistan will certainly fancy their chances of repeating that feat at the same venue. Led by Sarfraz Ahmed, the team is an exciting mix of younger and more experienced players and have shown incredible consistency in the T20 format where they are the No1 ranked team by some distance.

Akram has credited the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the change in the team’s fortunes in the limited-overs formats.

“I’ll give credit to the Pakistan Super League and our board for the resurgence of Pakistan cricket. We have a young side, apart from a Mohammad Hafeez and a Shoaib Malik, everyone is in their mid 20s. They are young, as well as experienced. The fielding also has improved,” he wrote.

Chasing their second title, Pakistan will open their 2019 World Cup campaign against two-time champions West Indies at Trent Bridge on May 31.