Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Saturday due to injury and was replaced by Chamika Karunaratne, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

Dasun Shanaka suffered a right thigh muscle injury during Sri Lanka’s defeat to Pakistan on Tuesday and it was revealed that he will stay out of action for a minimum of three weeks.

“The injury needs three weeks to recover,” the ICC said in a statement.

Allrounder Chamika Karunaratne, who was selected as a travelling reserve, was approved by the ICC Event Technical Committee to replace Dasun Shanaka in the squad. Karunaratne has played 23 ODIs for Sri Lanka and has picked 24 wickets at 28.83.

Meanwhile, vice-captain Kusal Mendis will lead the side in Shanaka’s absence.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Sri Lanka have lost both their opening games at the World Cup and will face fellow winless side Australia in Lucknow on Monday.

Sri Lanka faced a heavy six-wicket defeat against Pakistan after scoring a mammoth 344 on Tuesday.

However, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan struck gutsy centuries to power Pakistan to pull off the highest World Cup run-chase with 10 balls to spare.

Prior to that, a combined bowling effort after a batting onslaught propelled South Africa to hand a 102-run thrashing to Sri Lanka in their ICC World Cup 2023 opener.

Sri Lanka updated squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Kusal Mendis (c), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne

READ: Kane Williamson fractures thumb in new World Cup injury blow

AHMEDABAD: Rohit Sharma’s quickfire 86 after a combined effort from the bowlers led India to a dominant seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the high-octane ICC World Cup 2023 clash on Saturday.

Set to chase a modest 192, India comfortably knocked off the winning runs for the loss of just three wickets and 117 balls to spare.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave his side a flying start despite his opening partner Shubman Gill (16) perished cheaply in the third over with just 26 runs on the board.

Rohit then put together a one-sided 56-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who could score a mere 16 before falling victim to Hasan Ali in the 10th over.

Meanwhile, Kohli’s dismissal did not hurt India much as Rohit continued his onslaught and took India past the 150-run mark in 21 overs.

He, however, remained unlucky to not be able to convert his dominant knock into his eighth World Cup ton as he finally fell in the 22nd over.

Rohit Sharma top-scored for India with a brisk 63-ball 86 which featured six boundaries and as many sixes.

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Shreyas Iyer took the reigns of India’s pursuit after Rohit’s dismissal and knitted a match-winning 36-run partnership with KL Rahul, who scored 19 not out.

Iyer remained a notable contributor in India’s pursuit with an unbeaten half-century. His 62-ball 53 featured three boundaries and two sixes.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged two wickets while Hasan Ali made one scalp.

Pakistan, at one stage, were looking in a strong position to amass the 300-run mark, but a middle-order collapse, resulted in them bowling out at a meagre total.

Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq gave a steady start after being put into bat first at the picturesque Narendra Modi Stadium here.

The pair appeared in command before former top-ranked pacer Mohammed Siraj trapped Pakistan’s last-match centurion Abdullah Shafique plumb in the eighth over.

The right-handed opener could score 20 in 24 deliveries, hitting three boundaries.

Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq put together a brief 32-run partnership with Pakistan captain Babar Azam before Hardik Pandya got him caught behind in the 13th over. He scored a 38-ball 36 with the help of six boundaries.

Pakistan skipper Babar was then joined by in-form wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and they anchored the innings for Pakistan with a gutsy stand.

The duo of Babar and Rizwan added an important 82 runs, amassing his maiden ODI half-century against India in the process.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

He reached his half-century in just 57 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and ended a five-match streak without a fifty-plus score.

Babar Azam was eventually cleaned up by Mohammed Siraj on the next delivery which opened the floodgates for Pakistan.

The green shirts lost momentum after Babar’s dismissal and ran into a huge collapse with their other set batter Mohammad Rizwan also perishing in the midst.

He remained a notable run-getter for Pakistan with 49 off 69 deliveries, laced up with seven boundaries.

Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 32 runs and were eventually bundled out on 191 after Hasan Ali’s brief retaliation with a 19-ball 12.

READ: Babar Azam scores first ODI fifty against India in ICC World Cup 2023

AHMEDABAD: Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Saturday, scored his maiden ODI half-century against arch-rivals India in the high-octane ICC World Cup 2023 fixture.

Babar had a dismal record against India in ODIs, having scored only 168 runs in seven innings with a dismal average of 28.

Coming out to bat at number three after young opener Abdullah Shafique was removed by right-arm lanky pacer Mohammed Siraj in the eighth over, Babar Azam soon adapted to the conditions and scored with ease.

The right-handed batter put together an important 82-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan and amassed the milestone in the process.

He reached his half-century in just 57 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and ended a five-match streak without a fifty-plus score.

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Babar Azam was eventually cleaned up by Mohammed Siraj on the next delivery to mark India’s comeback.

For the unversed, Babar’s first appearance against India in ODIs was in the group-stage fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and he could score a mere eight.

In the blockbuster final of the tournament, he scored 46 in Pakistan’s historic 180-run victory over India.

Babar scored in the forties twice against India in the 2018 Asia Cup and was dismissed for 48 by Kuldeep Yadav during the 2019 World Cup.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

In the recently-held Asia Cup 2023, Babar Azam was castled Hardik Pandya on 10, the last meeting of the two-arch rivals in the fifty-over format.

In T20Is, however, Babar Azam has thus far accumulated 92 runs in four innings with the best score of 68 not out.

Notably, when this story was filed Pakistan were reeling at 172/7 in 36 overs with Hasan Ali (1) and Mohammad Nawaz (2) at the crease.

READ: Kane Williamson fractures thumb in new World Cup injury blow

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson faces another spell on the sidelines after scans revealed he fractured his thumb in the ICC World Cup 2023 win over Bangladesh, his first match in seven months following a serious knee injury. 

Coach Gary Stead said, however, that Williamson will remain with the squad and could return to the field “at the back end of pool play next month”.

The 33-year-old injured his left thumb when struck by a throw while running between the wickets in Friday’s eight-wicket Bangladesh in Chennai, forcing him to retire hurt on 78.

Batsman Tom Blundell will travel to India as cover but won’t officially be part of the squad while Kane Williamson rehabilitates, New Zealand Cricket said.

The injury soured Williamson’s return to cricket after injuring his knee playing in the Indian Premier League in March.

He sat out the opening World Cup wins over England and the Netherlands before being deemed ready to play against Bangladesh.

“Firstly, we’re all feeling for Kane to have this occur after all his hard work to return from his knee injury,” Stead said.

“While it’s disappointing, the initial diagnosis has given us some optimism he can still feature later in the pool play following a period of rest and rehabilitation.

“Kane is clearly a massive part of our side and a world-class player and captain – so we’ll look to give him every opportunity we can to return in the tournament.”

If Kane Williamson is ruled out until November, he will miss ICC World Cup 2023 pool games against Afghanistan, India and Australia over the next two weeks.

New Zealand currently sit on top of the 10-nation table after three wins in three games.

The top four qualify for the semi-finals while the final takes place in Ahmedabad on November 19.

READ: Pakistan eye to break India’s jinx in World Cups

AHMEDABAD: Rohit Sharma’s quickfire 86 after a combined effort from the bowlers led India to a dominant seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the high-octane ICC World Cup 2023 clash on Saturday.

IND 192/3 (30.3 Overs)

Nawaz again

IND 186/3 (30 Overs)

Hasan returns

IND 182/3 (29 Overs)

Nawaz bowls

IND 176/3 (28 Overs)

Rauf continues

IND 170/3 (27 Overs)

Nawaz continues for his seventh

IND 168/3 (26 Overs)

Rauf replaces Shaheen

IND 165/3 (25 Overs)

Nawaz bowls his sixth

IND 162/3 (24 Overs)

Shaheen continues

IND 161/3 (23 Overs)

Nawaz continues

IND 157/3 (22 Overs)

21.4: Shaheen bowls a slower off-cutter well outside off and lures Rohit to go hard but he only manages to toe-end it and ends up handing a simple catch to Iftikhar.

Shaheen comes back into the attack

IND 154/2 (21 Overs)

Nawaz again

IND 142/2 (20 Overs)

Shadab again

IND 129/2 (19 Overs)

Nawaz continues

IND 126/2 (18 Overs)

Shadab again

IND 118/2 (17 Overs)

Nawaz replaces Haris

IND 116/2 (16 Overs)

Shadab continues

IND 111/2 (15 Overs)

Haris continues

IND 101/2 (14 Overs)

Shadab Khan comes on

IND 96/2 (13 Overs)

Haris bowls

IND 88/2 (12 Overs)

Hasan continues

IND 81/2 (11 Overs)

Haris continues

IND 79/2 (10 Overs)

Hasan returns

IND 77/1 (9 Overs)

Haris Rauf comes into the attack

IND 63/1 (8 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz into the attack

IND 54/1 (7 Overs)

Shaheen bowls

IND 39/1 (6 Overs)

Hasan bowls his third

IND 38/1 (5 Overs)

Shaheen again

IND 31/1 (4 Overs)

Hasan continues

IND 23/1 (3 Overs)

2.5: Short and hard as Gill climbs into it but he can’t find the necessary elevation. Shadab goes reverse-cup and hangs onto the sharp chance.

Shaheen continues

IND 22/0 (2 Overs)

Hasan Ali bowls from the other end

IND 10/0 (1 Over)

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill come out to open for India. Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (2nd INNINGS)

AHMEDABAD: Indian bowlers pulled things back after Babar Azam’s half-century and restricted Pakistan to a below-par 191 in the high-octane ICC World Cup 2023 clash.

PAK 191 (42.4 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 190/9 (42 Overs)

Hardik Pandya continues

PAK 189/9 (41 Overs)

40.1: Hasan Ali hits a slog that goes nowhere except high, high in the air. Shubman Gill gets underneath it and takes a calm, composed catch.

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 187/8 (40 Overs)

39.6: Nawaz hacked straight to mid-on and the collapse extends.

Hardik Pandya replaces Bumrah

PAK 182/7 (39 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja returns to the attack

PAK 176/7 (38 Overs)

Jasprit Bumrah continues to bowl

PAK 174/7 (37 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 172/7 (36 Overs)

35.2: Shadab plays down the wrong line and sees his off stump take a pounding.

Jasprit Bumrah continues to bowl

PAK 170/6 (35 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 168/7 (34 Overs)

33.6: The slower offcutter does Rizwan in and the collapse is well and truly on.

Jasprit Bumrah replaces Mohammed Siraj

PAK 166/5 (33 Overs)

32.6: The wrong’un tossed up down leg, Iftikhar goes for a sweep, the ball catches his gloves and rolls back onto his stumps.

32.2: Saud stays back and is caught in front of the stumps as he misses the clip. But the umpire stays unmoved. India have taken the review. No bat is involved, the ball skids off the pitch, catches the batter in front and the tracker confirms it.

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 162/3 (32 Overs)

Mohammed Siraj continues to bowl from the other end

PAK 157/3 (31 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 156/3 (30 Overs)

29.4: Babar wanted to run that down to the third man, but it kept low, and the ball hit the stumps.

Mohammed Siraj continues

PAK 150/2 (29 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 144/2 (28 Overs)

Mohammed Siraj replaces Ravindra Jadeja

PAK 131/2 (27 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 129/2 (26 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 125/2 (25 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 123/2 (24 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 120/2 (23 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav continues

PAK 114/2 (22 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 105/2 (21 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav replaces Shardul Thakur

PAK 103/2 (20 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 96/2 (19 Overs)

Thakur continues

PAK 96/2 (18 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 90/2 (17 Overs)

Shardul Thakur replaces Hardik Pandya

PAK 84/2 (16 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja continues

PAK 79/2 (15 Overs)

Hardik Pandya continues

PAK 75/2 (14 Overs)

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack

PAK 73/2 (13 Overs)

12.3: Length ball that angles away from Imam, the ball catches the outside edge and Rahul dives to his left to complete a simple catch.

Hardik Pandya continues

PAK 68/1 (12 Overs)

Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack

PAK 60/1 (11 Overs)

Hardik Pandya continues

PAK 49/1 (10 Overs)

Siraj continues

PAK 48/1 (9 Overs)

Hardik Pandya replaces Jasprit Bumrah on the other end

PAK 41/1 (8 Overs)

7.6: The ball kept very, very low and struck Abdullah on the pad, halfway up the shin.

Siraj continues

PAK 37/0 (7 Overs)

Bumrah continues

PAK 28/0 (6 Overs)

Siraj continues

PAK 23/0 (5 Overs)

Bumrah continues from the other end

PAK 23/0 (4 Overs)

Siraj continues

PAK 17/0 (3 Overs)

Bumrah continues

PAK 16/0 (2 Overs)

Mohammed Siraj to bowl from the other end

PAK 4/0 (1 Over)

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq come out to open the innings. Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (1st INNINGS)

AHMEDABAD: India have won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the twelfth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

India

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 134, India 56, Pakistan 73, NR 5

ODI World Cup: Matches 7, India 7, Pakistan 0

READ: Pakistan eye to break India’s jinx in World Cups

AHMEDABAD: India have won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the twelfth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

India

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 134, India 56, Pakistan 73, NR 5

ODI World Cup: Matches 7, India 7, Pakistan 0

READ: Pakistan eye to break India’s jinx in World Cups

Cricket’s greatest rivalry is all set to ignite the excitement of the cricket fans to the zenith as fierce rivals Pakistan and India come face to face for the third time this year at the ICC World Cup 2023.

The heated rivalry attracts millions of cricket fans across the globe but only a small portion get to witness the high-octane clash at the stadiums.

But things will be different and bigger this time around as the world’s biggest cricket stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, which can accommodate as many as 132,000 spectators, will be hosting the anticipated match.

Although Pakistan and India squared off twice in Asia Cup 2023 last month, where the group stage match was abandoned due to rain, while India triumphed in the Super 4 stage match courtesy of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s dominant centuries.

Nevertheless, the anticipation level for this match is at the highest level, considering the fact that Pakistan and India are set to come face to face on Indian soil after seven years.

Pakistan team last toured India in 2016, for the ICC World T20 and played against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten half-century to lead India to a six-wicket win.

The last time these two teams faced each other in an ODI in India was ten years ago, during the 2013 tour of Pakistan for a three-match ODI series, where Pakistan came out victorious.

Overall, Pakistan and India have faced each other in 134 ODI matches. Pakistan have come out victorious on 73 occasions, whereas India triumphed in 56 matches.

However, barring the famous Champions Trophy final victory in 2017 under the inspired leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan have failed in five of their last seven ODI games against India, while one game was washed out.

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Notably, Pakistan never defeated India in the seven ICC World Cup matches they have played. The most recent encounter between the arch-rivals took place during the ICC World Cup 2019 in England.

The current Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, led the Men in Blue to a resounding victory over Pakistan, with a blistering 140-run innings off 113 balls.

India’s undefeated streak has made this rivalry even more intriguing however; captains of both teams dismissed the idea of an ongoing streak as part of their strategies.

“Past is past, I try to focus on present. Records are meant to be broken,” said Babar Azam.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma also echoes the same sentiments that the streak does not matter.

“I am not a person who looks at all such stats (7-0). We only focus on how can we play good cricket,” said Sharma.

Both teams kicked off their ICC World Cup campaign with two victories in their first two games gaining momentum going into the high-octane match.

However, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is going through a rough patch and has not been able to reach the 30-run mark in his last five ODI innings since his 151 against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023.

Moreover, Babar Azam’s weakness against wrist spinners is also alarming, with Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav having an excellent record against the Pakistani captain.

Babar Azam faced Kuldeep Yadav in three ODI games and managed to score only 18 runs, while Kuldeep got him out twice. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav returned with figures of 5-25 in the last match between the two neighbours.

Records also suggest Babar Azam’s struggles against India in ODI cricket, scoring only 168 runs in seven innings with a dismal average of 28.

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On the other hand, Virat Kohli has a tremendous record against Pakistan in ODI cricket. He has accumulated 662 runs at an average of 55.16 with three centuries In 15 ODI matches, including 94-ball 122 in the Asia Cup Super Four match last month.

Nonetheless, it is expected to be a great competition between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, two of the greatest batters of modern times. Despite his bad form, Babar Azam is currently sitting at the top of the ODI batting ranking, the position which was once held by Virat Kohli.

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has been in good form, scoring 199 runs in two ICC World Cup 2023 games, including the match-winning century against Sri Lanka to successfully chase the highest-ever total in a World Cup game.

Rizwan was supported by Abdullah Shafique, who scored his maiden ODI hundred in his fifth ODI appearance. It would be an interesting battle between Pakistani batters and Indian bowling attack.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani bowling attack appears somewhat muted compared to the fiery display witnessed during the group-stage clash against India in the Asia Cup. Naseem Shah was ruled out of the World Cup, while Shaheen Afridi is struggling to create the magic with the new ball.

Hasan Ali, who replaced Naseem Shah in the World Cup squad, is currently their best wicket-taker in the World Cup with six wickets, equalled with India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

While Bumrah is on song, his new-ball partner Mohammed Siraj has struggled to recreate the devastation he showed during his six-wicket spell against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup final.
He managed to pick only one wicket in two World Cup games so far.

Indian spin attack is arguably the best in the world, with Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin at the helm. Considering Pakistani batters’ struggle against spin bowlers, it will be an interesting contest.

Both teams have seen some changes since their last face-off in the Asia Cup just a month ago. However, one thing is certain – the upcoming match between India and Pakistan is bound to deliver high-intensity action on the field.

Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

India’s Squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Rohit Sharma (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

READ: ICC World Cup 2023: PAK vs IND clash to kick off with star-studded ceremony

AHMEDABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf on Friday, met the national team ahead of their high-octane ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against hosts India.

According to the details, the PCB head met the Babar Azam-led Pakistan contingent and encouraged the players before the big match against fierce rival India, scheduled on October 14.

Zaka Ashraf further instructed the Pakistan players to take on the field without feeling any pressure.

“The whole nation is praying for their success,” said Ashraf on the eve of the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash.

“All the players should take the fear of defeat out of their minds and enter the field,” he added.

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For the unversed, the PCB chair took off from Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Thursday evening for Ahmedabad.

During his stay in India, Zaka Ashraf will meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the government officials to propose the restoration of cricketing ties between the two countries.

Zaka Ashraf made the decision to travel to India after it was confirmed that the media personnel were given the go-ahead to submit their passports for an Indian visa to cover the ICC World Cup 2023.

“I have delayed my travel to India, and I am travelling tomorrow after receiving confirmation that Pakistan’s journalists have been asked to submit their passports to obtain visas to cover the mega event.

“I am happy that my conversation with the foreign office helped in achieving a positive development regarding the visa delay.

“I am extremely pleased with the way the players have performed so far in the World Cup, winning both matches. The PCB management committee and the entire nation stand firmly behind the players for a successful campaign in the ongoing World Cup.

“I am travelling to India to motivate the team, and my message to them before the India contest will be to play fearlessly as they have been playing throughout the event.”

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Acknowledging Zaka Ashraf’s decision to travel to India, BCCI Honorary Secretary, Jay Shah, extended a warm welcome to the PCB head.

The two counterparts had a telephonic conversation, where Shah expressed his delight to have Zaka Ashraf in India. Shah further extended his hospitality by offering to facilitate him by arranging his meetings with other high-ranking officials during his stay in India.

READ: “India will be under pressure at their home ground,” says Hasan Ali

AHMEDABAD: Pakistan’s right-arm pacer Hasan Ali asserted that hosts India will be under pressure at their home ground in the highly-anticipated PAK vs IND clash at the ICC World Cup 2023 on Saturday.

The most-anticipated fixture of this iteration of the ICC World Cup 2023 is upon us. Billions of cricket fans from around the world will tune in to watch great rivals, Pakistan and India, play at the biggest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium here.

The contest will mark the first instance of Pakistan and India playing a One-Day International against each other on Indian soil after 10 years. Their last bilateral meeting resulted in Pakistan defeating the hosts 2-1.

Both sides enter this contest after wins in their opening matches.

India beat Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Delhi and Pakistan signed off their memorable trip to Hyderabad by recording the highest-ever chase in the history of the World Cup, thanks to gutsy centuries from Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan, on Tuesday.

Babar Azam’s side kicked off their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign with a comfortable 81-run win over the Netherlands.

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Meanwhile, Hasan Ali, who played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2017 glory, claimed that pressure will be on India at their home ground while also expressing his confidence that the national team will break India’s winning streak against Pakistan in the 50-over World Cups.

“Records are meant to be broken and we too are looking forward to breaking this jinx of not having beaten India in a 50-over World Cup,” Hasan told PCB Digital.

“It is India who will be under pressure as it is their home ground with fans turning up to support them. There is always pressure in a big game like this but we will try to gain momentum early in the proceedings and win the contest.”

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Hasan Ali further shared on the eve of the high-octane PAK vs IND clash that starting the tournament with back-to-back wins has lifted the team’s confidence.

“Efforts like the record chase against Sri Lanka, boost the morale of a side,” Hasan, who is also Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with six scalps at an average of 17.33, said.

“There were some fantastic individual and collective performances against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. When you start a tournament with consecutive wins, it boosts your confidence.”

The excitement of the PAK vs IND contest is such that both countries come to a virtual standstill. Fans, not only in the two countries but also across the world, gear up to watch the two sides lock horns.

“This is the best [sporting] rivalry in the world,” Hasan said.

“Many players have already spoken about how everyone around the globe tunes into this match. The team is excited for this game, and so am I to play at a venue hosting fans in excess of 100,000. We are looking forward to the game.”

READ: PAK vs IND clash to kick off with star-studded ceremony

CHENNAI: Returning Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell scored anchoring half-centuries after a combined effort from the bowlers to steer New Zealand to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup 2023.

New Zealand completed the 246-run pursuit in 42.5 overs when Daryl Mitchell clubbed Shoriful Islam for a six over deep midwicket.

The 2019 finalists had a shaky start to the run chase as they struggled against Bangladesh pacers with in-form Rachin Ravindra (9) perishing in the third over with just 12 runs on the board.

Skipper Williamson joined Devon Conway at the crease following the debacle and anchored the run chase.

The pair batted sensibly to add 80 runs to the total before Shakib Al Hasan got rid of Conway in the 21st over.

He contributed significantly for New Zealand with a 59-ball 45, hitting three boundaries.

Williamson then joined forces with Mitchell and the duo put New Zealand in complete command.

They put together a 108-run stand for the third wicket, which ended when Williamson walked off the field after sustaining a blow to his left-hand thumb.

He scored 78 in 107 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and a six.

Mitchell spearheaded New Zealand’s pursuit after Williamson’s departure and powered his side to glory with 43 balls to spare.

He remained unbeaten with a quickfire 89. His 67-ball knock included six boundaries and four sixes.

For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib could pick up a wicket apiece.

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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who made his long-awaited return after a six-month hiatus due to an injury, invited Bangladesh to bat after winning the toss.

New Zealand bowlers justified their captain’s decision and reduced Bangladesh to 56-4 in the 13th over, after a 40-run partnership between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanzid Hasan for the second wicket.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim then stitched a 96-run stand for the fifth wicket to drag the total to 152.

Lockie Ferguson broke the stand when Shakib Al Hasan attempted to hit back-to-back sixes but failed and was caught behind by Tom Latham.

He scored 40 off 51, with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim on the other end scored an anchoring 66, featuring six boundaries and two sixes before being castled by Matt Henry.

Mahmudullah and Taskin Ahmed then added a valuable 34 runs for the eighth wicket until the latter swept Santner straight to deep backward square.

Meanwhile, Mahmudullah stayed till the end to push the total to 245-9 in their accumulated 50 overs.

His 49-ball 41 featured two boundaries and as many sixes.

Lockie Ferguson topped the bowling charts for New Zealand with figures of 3-49, while Trent Boult and Matt Henry picked two wickets.

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