ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Archives

Pakistan team reaches Melbourne for T20 World Cup final

MELBOURNE: Pakistan cricket team reached Melbourne on Thursday to play the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on November 13.

After a successful hunt in Sydney the other day, the Men in Green are now just one win away from lifting the megaevent’s trophy for the second time after 13 years. Babar Azam-led side will be looking to repeat the 2009 glory when Pakistan lifted their first and only T20 World Cup.

On Sunday, the Green Shirts will be locking horns with the winner of today’s second semi-final between England and India.

In the meantime, the national squad will undergo practice sessions before the eventful day. The team will engage in their first net session at the MCG tomorrow at 11 A.M (local time).

Pakistan, who barely made it to the final four, sealed a sensational win in the first semi-final against New Zealand by seven wickets on Wednesday and reached the final for the third time in T20 World Cups.

The team gained a major confidence booster before the final as the batting mainstays, skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan made a sensational comeback in the semi-final and regained their form just at the right time in the tournament. Both smashed astounding fifties against the Kiwis as they jointly raised a magnificent 105-run opening stand, registering their ninth centurion partnership in T20Is.

READ: Rain likely to play spoiler in T20 World Cup final on Sunday

Babar, Rizwan star before Haris steers Pakistan to T20 World Cup final

SYDNEY: Pakistan’s mainstay Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan smashed astounding fifties as the two gathered for their ninth centurion opening stand to take Pakistan to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as they thrashed New Zealand by seven wickets in the first semi-final, here on Wednesday.

Pakistan reached the final for the third time in T20 World Cups as the struggling opening duo broke out of their slumps and showed their domination just at the right time.

Set to chase 153, Pakistan completely dominated the New Zealand bowling attack and chased down the target with five balls to spare as the openers raised a sensational 105-run partnership in 76 balls, steering to a commanding position in the game.

Energetic batter Mohammad Haris, on the other hand, smacked two fours and a huge six as he scored 30 off 26 before he was dismissed by Mitchell Santner with Pakistan just a hit away from victory.

Player of the match, Rizwan, top-scored for the side with his scintillating 43-ball 57, including five boundaries while Babar scored 53 off 42, raising his 30th T20I fifty. The skipper blasted seven scintillating fours during his impressive knock which was cut short by Trent Boult in the 13th over.

Following Babar’s dismissal, Haris joined the No.2 T20I batter on the crease and hoisted 27 runs for the second wicket before Boult got rid of Rizwan on a full toss just below the waistline in the 17th over and caught at the covers.

Earlier in the first innings, all-rounder Daryl Mitchell and skipper Kane Williamson braved the furious bowling attack despite early scares and took New Zealand to 152/4 after they opted to bat first.

Mitchell starred with a glittering half-century while the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson played a cautious knock of 42-ball 46 as the two gathered for a valiant 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan bowlers kept the New Zealand batters on their toes right from the start as pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi had the breakthrough in the very first over, dismissing in-form Finn Allen cheaply on the third ball.

Opener Devon Conway then anchored the New Zealand innings, alongside the skipper with a cautious 34-run partnership and took the scoreboard to 38/1 before Shadab Khan’s direct hit forced Conway’s ouster on the last delivery of the powerplay.

Captain Babar Azam was spot-on with his bowling changes in the middle as Mohammad Nawaz struck down Glenn Phillips (6 off 8) cheaply in his first over.

Mitchell’s 53* off 35, however, cruised the Blackcaps to a fighting total amid the fine display of death bowling by Pakistan as Shaheen Afridi dislodged the well-set Williamson in the 17th over before Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf bowled on the right areas with express pace to deny Kiwi batters any room to free their arms.

Pakistan thrash New Zealand, storm into the T20 WC 2022 Final

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SYDNEY: Pakistan’s mainstay Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan smashed astounding fifties as the two gathered for their sixth centurion opening stand to take Pakistan to the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as they thrashed New Zealand by seven wickets in the first semi-final, here on Wednesday.

PAK 153/3 (19.1 Overs)

Southee to bowl the final over

PAK 151/3 (19 Overs)

Santner to bowl his last

PAK 145/2 (18 Overs)

Ferguson comes back

PAK 132/2 (17 Overs)

16.6: Boult aims for the yorker, but comes out as a full-toss outside off. Rizwan shimmies out and slaps it to Phillips.

Boult comes back into the attack

PAK 127/1 (16 Overs)

Southee comes back

PAK 122/1 (15 Overs)

Santner continues

PAK 113/1 (14 Overs)

Sodhi comes to bowl his last

PAK 109/1 (13 Overs)

12.4: Smeared to long-on. Mitchell settles under this at the long-on boundary. On a length and outside off, Babar looks to go over the top, but can’t clear Mitchell.

Boult comes back

PAK 102/0 (12 Overs)

Sodhi comes again

PAK 97/0 (11 Overs)

Ferguson comes back

PAK 87/0 (10 Overs)

Sodhi continues from the other end

PAK 75/0 (9 Overs)

Santner continues

PAK 68/0 (8 Overs)

Ish Sodhi comes into the attack

PAK 63/0 (7 Overs)

Mitchell Santner comes after power-play

PAK 55/0 (6 Overs)

Ferguson continues

PAK 47/0 (5 Overs)

Southee comes again

PAK 32/0 (4 Overs)

Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack

PAK 24/0 (3 Overs)

Boult continues

PAK 9/0 (2 Overs)

Tim Southee to bowl from the other end

PAK 7/0 (1 Over)

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan come out to bat for Pakistan. Trent Boult to open the bowling attack.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (2nd INNINGS)

SYDNEY: All-rounder Daryl Mitchell and skipper Kane Williamson braved the furious bowling attack despite early scares as Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 152/4 in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World 2022, here on Wednesday.

NZ 152/4 (20 Overs)

Naseem to bowl the final over

NZ 144/4 (19 Overs)

Haris to bowl the 19th over

NZ 133/4 (18 Overs)

Naseem comes back

NZ 123/4 (17 Overs)

16.2: Williamson shuffles across off for a scoop of his own. Afridi bowls a slower off-cutter into the pitch. 121ks, he finds some grip and tricks Williamson into playing at it way too early. Williamson misses.

Shaheen comes to bowl his last

NZ 116/3 (16 Overs)

Haris comes back

NZ 106/3 (15 Overs)

Shaheen replaces Wasim Jr

NZ 99/3 (14 Overs)

Shadab comes to bowl his last

NZ 89/3 (13 Overs)

Wasim Jr replaces Shadab

NZ 81/3 (12 Overs)

Naseem replaces Nawaz

NZ 73/3 (11 Overs)

Shadab comes again

NZ 59/3 (10 Overs)

Nawaz continues

NZ 52/3 (9 Overs)

Shadab continues

NZ 49/3 (8 Overs)

7.6: Miscued back to the bowler! Nawaz slows his pace up, and pins Phillips! Huge wicket for Pakistan. Just gave it a tad more air and it gripped in the pitch, came off a leading edge as he look to work to leg.

Mohammad Nawaz comes to bowl his first

NZ 44/2 (7 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes into the attack

NZ 38/2 (6 Overs)

5.6: Direct hit from mid-off! Superb from Shadab Khan. The ball sat up nicely for him to collect and fire in an accurate throw.

Haris continues

NZ 30/1 (5 Overs)

Mohammad Wasim Jr replaces Shaheen

NZ 23/1 (4 Overs)

Haris Rauf comes into the attack

NZ 19/1 (3 Overs)

Shaheen continues

NZ 14/1 (2 Overs)

Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end

NZ 6/1 (1 Over)

0.3: Smacked on the front pad swinging across the line. Pitching on leg, hitting middle and leg!

Finn Allen and Devon Conway come out to bat for New Zealand. Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (1st INNINGS)

SYDNEY: New Zealand have won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, here on Wednesday.

PLAYING XIs

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Haris, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 28, Pakistan 17, New Zealand 11

FORM GUIDE

Pakistan: W, W, W, L, L
New Zealand: W, L, W, W, L

New Zealand win toss, elect to bat first against Pakistan in first semi-final

SYDNEY: New Zealand have won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, here on Wednesday.

PLAYING XIs

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 28, Pakistan 17, New Zealand 11

FORM GUIDE

Pakistan: W,W,W,L,L
New Zealand: W,L,W,W,L

Pakistan eye to return 1992 glory as they face New Zealand in semi-final

It is nothing less than a miracle that we are witnessing Pakistan stepping into the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. In fact, the elderly fans of the team would have gone through a deja vu when almost three decades ago Imran Khan’s ‘Cornered tigers’ pulled off a dream comeback aided by forces beyond human comprehension to qualify for the final four and then locking horns with New Zealand before the final. A perfect repeat telecast of the 1992 World Cup is what the nation will be craving today.

But, what are the odds that a wobbly Pakistan – who barely advanced to the final four stage – can beat the Kiwis – who almost made it a mundane activity to become finalists of the recent ICC tournaments, both ODI and T20 – at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the first semi-final on Wednesday? (New Zealand were the runner ups of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, and also the 2021 T20 World Cup)

Both teams have one strength in common, and that is their pace battery. With veterans like Trent Boult and Tim Southee and an express pacer Lockie Ferguson at their disposal, New Zealand have every box ticked to disrupt even the most potent batting lineups of the world. And If they could make the new ball talk, the under-pressure opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam might find it hard to salvage themselves from a woeful batting slump in the current tournament.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will be rooting for Shaheen, who just got his rhythm back, to give them an early breakthrough before Naseem Shah and death-bowling specialist Haris Rauf could further coerce the strong-looking Kiwi batting line. Pakistan will try to resist any change in their bowling make-up as the addition of an extra fast bowler, Mohammad Wasim Jr, have paid them dividends in the last four matches.

Besides their pace factory, Pakistan got a highly reliable spin attack that features the likes of leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who has been the most impactful player for the Green Shirts be it with the bowl or even with the bat, the all-rounder has made his presence felt and played some crucial roles in his side’s triumph.
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A brief glance at the stats of the SCG shows us that the teams batting first have an edge over their opponents as they won 10 out of 17 T20I matches while the average first innings score is 167. Pakistan bode far better than the average when they raised 185/9 against South Africa in their group match at the venue, thanks to the blistering knocks by Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed coupled with a superb cameo played by young Mohammad Haris in the powerplay.

The Green Shirts desperately need their batting mainstays, Babar and Rizwan, to click just at the right time and it couldn’t be a much better opportunity than this. So far their sluggish approach in the powerplay caused less good than evil for the team in the tournament. But a bet on energetic Haris to open for the team might break that stagnation at the top for Pakistan. Maybe or maybe not? We have to see how today’s game turns out.

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 28, Pakistan 17, New Zealand 11

FORM GUIDE

Pakistan: W,W,W,L,L
New Zealand: W,L,W,W,L

Babar Azam goes extra mile to reclaim his form ahead of semi-final

SYDNEY: Pakistan captain Babar Azam participated in the optional training session ahead of his team’s scheduled semi-final clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 against New Zealand.

According to the details, the rest of the national team preferred to rest before the all-important semi-final against New Zealand, scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Babar, who is going through a rough patch, practised alone in the nets to regain his form.

The right-handed batter trained for a gruelling one and a half hours, while team mentor Matthew Hayden accompanied him.

It is pertinent to mention that Babar could manage to score 39 runs in five innings at a dismal average of 7.8 and a strike rate of 48.03.

READ: T20 WC: Rohit gets hit on forearm during net session ahead of semi-final

T20 WC: Rohit gets hit on forearm during net session ahead of semi-final

ADELAIDE: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma survived a serious injury as he got a hit on the forearm while practising in the nets on Tuesday ahead of the T20 World Cup semi-final against England.

According to the Indian media reports, Rohit took some rest and applied an icepack before resuming his training again but mostly played defensive shots to make sure that his movements were alright.

The Indian captain was undergoing usual practice drills when he faced a powerful blow on his forearm while attempting a pull shot against the dog thrower. Rohit looked in pain and received immediate medical treatment.

Team sources said the captain is doing fine and should play the semifinal against England on Thursday, reported Indian media.

It is pertinent to mention here that India topped the Group 2 standings in the Super 12s stage with four wins and a lone defeat against South Africa. The Men in Blue will now take on England at Adelaide Oval on Thursday in the second semifinal of the mega event.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will face New Zealand in the first semi-final tomorrow at Sydney Cricket Ground.

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‘You’re about to see something very special from Babar’ says Hayden

SYDNEY: Pakistan team mentor Matthew Hayden has put his weight behind out-of-form skipper Babar Azam and has cautioned the opposing teams that they are about to witness some very special knock from the Pakistan captain in the final phase of the T20 World Cup.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday ahead of the first semifinal between the Green Shirts and New Zealand tomorrow at the Sydney Cricket Ground, former Australian cricketer has backed Pakistan’s opening pair, Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, to bounce back from the dip, saying that such special players do not stay down for long.

Hayden supported both of the openers and compared their predicament to that of Adam Gilchrist during the 2007 ODI World Cup.

“Babar and Rizwan rightly are the number one combination,” he said. “Adam Gilchrist… had quite a lean World Cup…(And) that last match against Sri Lanka, he went on to score an incredible hundred and realized his potential in that tournament and awakened the world once again to the fact that he was such a premium player. ”

He further went on to say we all felt the pressure at any given time in our careers and that was no different for the No.1 combination.

Talking about Babar’s form in the current T20 World Cup, Hayden said: “You can’t continue to punching out the fifties and hundreds and the strike rates of 140 plus. There’s got to be moments in time when there’s a lull.”

“As well know about the weather when there’s a lull, there’s often a storm that follows. So look out, the rest of the world because I think you’re about to see something very special from Babar,” he warned.

It is pertinent to mention here that No.4 ranked T20I batter Babar remained unimpressive with the bat in the ongoing mega event as he was dismissed within the single digits four out of five times while he managed an overall 39 runs in the tournament so far.

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Pakistan team reaches Sydney for semifinal clash against New Zealand

SYDNEY: Pakistan cricket team reached Sydney on Monday ahead of their crucial semifinal clash against the Group 1 topper New Zealand on Wednesday here at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

The Babar Azam-led side barged into the knockout stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 with an astonishing turn of events as underdogs Netherlands upset South Africa in the first clash of Sunday’s tripleheader while Pakistan beat Bangladesh to confirm the spot in the final four.

The national squad will not participate in any sort of cricket-related activity tomorrow. Whereas, team mentor Matthew Hayden will hold a press talk on Tuesday evening.

The Green Shirts had previously played one of their Super 12s games at the SCG where they sealed a sensational win against South Africa on November 3 ( Thursday).

In the second semifinal, India will take on England on Thursday in Adelaide while the final of the mega event will be held on November 13 ( Sunday) at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Men in Green survived the early scares and got a surprise ticket to the tournament’s semifinal as their chances for qualification looked bleak after they lost the first two matches of the World Cup campaign, including an upset defeat against Zimbabwe in Perth.

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Pakistan to face New Zealand in semi-final as India thrash Zimbabwe

MELBOURNE: Indian opener KL Rahul and top-ranked T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav powered their side to a massive 186/5 before bowlers displayed a combined effort to decimate the Zimbabwean batting order and handed their side a comprehensive 71-run victory in the last Super 12s fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Following India’s triumph over Zimbabwe, Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday, while India will take on England in the second semi-final on Thursday.

Set to chase 187, the Zimbabwean batting lineup failed completely and could amass 115 runs before being bundled out in the 18th over.

Experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl put up a brief fight with their valiant knocks of 34 and 35 respectively, while the rest of the Zimbabwean batters had no answers to the Indian bowling attack.

Skipper Craig Ervine could accumulate 13 runs, while the rest of the Zimbabwean batters failed to amass the double figures.

Ravichandran Ashwin led the bowling attack for India with 3/22, while Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami bagged two wickets each.

Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

After opting to bat first, India succeeded in posting a mammoth 186/5 in their last Super 12s fixture at the back of Rahul and Kumar’s fifties.

The men in blue had a rather unwanted start to their innings as they lost their captain Rohit Sharma (15) cheaply for a mere 27 runs in the fourth over.

India’s top batter Virat Kohli then anchored the innings alongside Rahul and carried the total to 87 in the 12th over before the former perished after scoring 26 off 25.

Following Kohli’s dismissal, Rahul too, could not hold on for long and fell briefly after amassing his half-century. He scored 51 off 35 with the help of three boundaries and as many sixes.

Replacing Dinesh Karthik in the Playing XI, Rishabh Pant, failed to make an impact with the bat against Zimbabwe and could score a mere three runs in five balls before walking back to the dugout in the 14th over.

Following Pant’s departure, Kumar and Hardik Pandya took the charge and took Zimbabwean bowlers to cleaners as they added 65 runs in just 35 balls to power India to a massive total.

Kumar was the main aggressor of the vital fifth wicket stand, while Pandya, who was rotating the strike fell in the final over after scoring a run-a-ball 18.

The top-ranked batter Kumar top scored for India with a blistering 61 off 25 balls, laced with six boundaries and four sixes.

For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams bagged two wickets for just nine runs, while Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava struck out a batter each.