'Right for us to be labelled WC favourites'

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman believes his team has the credentials to be considered favourites for next year’s ICC World Cup in the United Kingdom.

Pakistan currently sit fifth in the International Cricket Council’s one-day team rankings, behind England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

But Fakhar says Pakistan’s success in last year’s Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom – where they defeated India in the final at The Oval – could be a sign of what’s to come next June and July.

"The current Pakistan team combination is brilliant and the results we have recently produced are good proof of that,” he told Sky Sports.

"We will travel to England to win the title and not just to make up the numbers.

"I do feel that it is right for us to be labelled favourites for the 2019 World Cup as our team will be well equipped for this tournament."

The left-hander played a crucial role in that Champions Trophy success, scoring 114 from 106 deliveries in the tournament final.

Last month, Fakhar became the first Pakistan player to score a double hundred in one-day internationals when he smashed an unbeaten 210 against Zimbabwe.

The in-form opener averages 76.06 from his 18 ODIs to date and will be a key part of Pakistan’s World Cup plans.

Despite an impressive start to his international limited-overs career, Fakhar has yet to break into Pakistan's Test XI. That's something he hopes will change later this year, with Pakistan scheduled to meet Australia in the United Arab Emirates in October.

"Regardless of which team I play against, the fact is that Test cricket is one format that provides the ultimate test of skills for a player and to perform well in this form of the game is my dream,” he added.

"When that opportunity does arrive, I will do my best.

"While I could not debut in Tests during the recent tour of Ireland and England, I learnt a lot from that tour and also worked very hard on my batting technique, which I feel will help me in Tests."

But for now his focus is on next month’s Asia Cup, which will see India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and a yet-to-be determined qualifier go head to head in a series of 50-over matches in the United Arab Emirates.

“At the moment, I am fully focused on doing well in the upcoming Asia Cup,” the 28-year-old said.

“Of course, World Cup is an important tournament, but it’s far too early for me to start planning for it.”