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MELBOURNE : Heavy rain in Brisbane poured cold water on the final batches of warm-up matches ahead of the T20 World Cup but a fit-again Shaheen Afridi's trademark arms-aloft celebration lifted spirits in the Pakistan camp on Wednesday.
The afternoon India v New Zealand and South Africa v Bangladesh matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled but 2009 champions Pakistan would be happy even if rain halted their victory charge against Afghanistan earlier in the day. Afridi, returning from a knee injury, sent an ominous signal to the batters who have converged in Australia bowling four overs at full tilt to claim two wickets for 29 runs.
Pakistan were given a wake-up call in their recent warm-up game against England on Monday ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup. They misfired in all departments and lost the match by six wickets. Though players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not play the game, the Pakistan XI had stars like Shan Masood, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali among others. Pakistan managed to score 160/8 batting first, but England chased down the target in just 14.4 overs. They begin their 2022 T20 World Cup campaign against India and before that their fitness level has failed to impress Pakistan great Misbah-ul-Haq.
The last time India faced Pakistan in a World Cup match, Mohammad Rizwan starred for the Babar Azam-led side. The wicketkeeper-opener top-scored with a 55-ball 79 as Pakistan chased down 152-run target with all wickets intact. It was Pakistan's first-ever win over India in a World Cup match. India and Pakistan meet again at the 2022 T20 World Cup on October 23 in Melbourne. It will be the opening match for both the teams, and Rizwan's role will be crucial in the tie. The Pakistan team has landed in Australia and its preparation is in full swing.
The Pakistan Cricket Board shared a heartwarming video on social media in which the country's cricket team skipper Babar Azam and his fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan could be seen giving some advice to Bangladesh batter Litton Das. While Babar advised the Bangladeshi player to ignore the outside noise while playing for the country, Rizwan told him the importance of hard work. Meanwhile, Litton could be seen listening to the two Pakistan openers carefully during the chat. "Learning Never Stops," wrote PCB while sharing the video on Instagram.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are currently two of the best T20 batters in the world. The opening combine's performance is crucial to Pakistan's chances at the T20 World Cup. So, when Pakistan face India in their opening game of the marquee event in Melbourne, all eyes will be on the duo. Former India allrounder Irfan spoke on how the Indian bowlers should face the likes of Babar and Rizwan in the much-anticipated clash.
Pakistan tuned up for the tri-series final against hosts New Zealand with a nerve-wracking seven-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday after Mohammad Nawaz secured victory with just a ball to spare.
Pakistan tuned up for the tri-series final against hosts New Zealand with a nerve-wracking seven-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday after Mohammad Nawaz secured victory with just a ball to spare. Litton Das, who brushed off an early leg strain to put in a gutsy performance, and captain Shakib Al Hasan both chalked up half centuries for Bangladesh to set Pakistan 174 to win in Christchurch. In reply, Pakistan had to work for the win as allrounder Nawaz put in a match-changing innings of 45 off 20 balls.