Tag: India vs Pakistan

Arch-rivals Pakistan and India are placed in the same group in this year’s Men’s ODI Asia Cup, scheduled in September.

Asian Cricket Council on Thursday released the pathway structure and cricket calendar for the years 2023 and 2024 with no mention of the host venues for the tournaments scheduled during the period.

Reportedly, the Indian cricket board had categorically denied sending their team to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and has been making constant efforts to move the tournament to a neutral venue.

But, according to the ACC calendar unveiled by its president Jay Shah, India and Pakistan will be part of the same group along with a qualifying team in the tournament – a formation similar to that of the previous year’s T20 Asia Cup.

Presenting the @ACCMedia1 pathway structure & cricket calendars for 2023 & 2024! This signals our unparalleled efforts & passion to take this game to new heights. With cricketers across countries gearing up for spectacular performances, it promises to be a good time for cricket! pic.twitter.com/atzBO4XjIn

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) January 5, 2023

Similarly, women’s teams of both countries are also placed in the same group for the 2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup.

Likewise, the Men’s U19 Asia Cup and the Men’s T20 Emerging teams Asia Cup, both scheduled in 2024, also feature Pakistan and India in the same group.

READ: PAK v NZ: Tickets for ODI series go on sale

MELBOURNE: The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) on Thursday expressed interest in the possibility of hosting a much-anticipated Test between arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

Two Asian giants and bitter rivals, who did not face each other in the longest format since 2007 due to the seizure of the bilateral series between them, have once again caught the attention of other cricketing nations after MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox expressed his interest in hosting a Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Notably, the two sides come face to face in the ODIs and T20Is in multi-national events like Asia Cup and ICC World Cups.

They last met in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at MCG, which witnessed a mammoth audience of more than 90,000 piling in the stands while some stood to witness India seal a final-ball thriller over Pakistan after Virat Kohli’s heroics.

The electric atmosphere of the T20 World Cup fixture seemed to have inspired the MCC Chief Fox, who asserted that there would be no problem in loading the stadium for the entirety of a Test match.

“The atmosphere for that game, I’ve never felt anything like it,” Fox told radio station SEN.

“The noise after every ball was phenomenal. Three (Tests) in a row would be lovely at the MCG, you’d fill it every time.

“We’ve taken that up with Cricket Australia. I know the (Victoria) government has as well. It’s enormously complicated from what I can understand, amongst a really busy schedule. So I think that’s probably the greater challenge.”

Meanwhile, the MCC chief further expressed his hope in Cricket Australia keeps pushing for the proposal to the global cricket governing body – International Cricket Council.

“When you do see some of the stadiums around the world unoccupied, I think it would be much better to have a full house and that atmosphere and celebrating the game with full houses,” Fox said.

READ: India to bid for 2036 Olympics: sports minister

MELBOURNE: Australia’s T20I captain Aaron Finch commented on his obsession with the biggest cricket rivalry and is eager to retire and watch the Pakistan-India match live.

Finch, in an interview with journalist Melinda Farrell on her YouTube channel, revealed he watched the much-anticipated Pakistan-India match in his hotel room and is a big fan of the rivalry between the two Asian sides.

“Regardless of what the result is…I think the India-Pakistan game was amazing. I was actually sitting at home, nervous! I was nervous in the build-up watching that because I know how big a clash it is and I can’t wait for the day that I can retire and go and watch an India-Pakistan game live somewhere,” said Finch.

“I was sitting on the couch in my hotel room and I was nervous in the build-up, it’s quite strange, yeah,” he added.

The Australian captain then heaped praises on Virat Kohli, whose unbeaten 82-run knock powered India to a stunning final-over thriller victory over Pakistan and stated it was simply just the latter’s masterclass and the amount of pressure his presence exerts on the opposition.

“What it was…was a Virat Kohli masterclass! You always felt even though…with three overs to go that if you’re still there…you know the amount of pressure that he puts on the opposition just by being there and yeah it was just great viewing,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Australia have lost their opening game against New Zealand on October 22 before beating Sri Lanka on Tuesday. The hosts are yet to face England today, however, the persistent rain and wet outfield resulted in delaying the action.

England, on the other hand, suffered a frustrating upset defeat at the hands of Ireland on Thursday and therefore, will be looking to bounce back.

READ: AFG v IRE: Match called off due to uninterrupted rain

Watch HD Live Streaming on ARY ZAP: https://aryzap.com/icc-mens-t20-worldcup-2022/

MELBOURNE: Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya held their nerves strong to steer India to a thrilling victory by four wickets in a nerve-wracking clash against arch-rivals Pakistan of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, here on Sunday.

IND 160/4 (20 Overs)

Nawaz to bowl the final over

IND 144/4 (19 Overs)

Haris comes to bowl his last

IND 129/4 (18 Overs)

Shaheen comes to bowl his last

IND 112/4 (17 Overs)

Naseem comes to bowl his last

IND 106/4 (16 Overs)

Haris comes back

IND 100/4 (15 Overs)

Naseem comes back into the attack

IND 90/4 (14 Overs)

Shadab comes to bowl his last

IND 83/4 (13 Overs)

Shaheen comes back into the attack

IND 74/4 (12 Overs)

Nawaz comes to bowl his third

IND 54/4 (11 Overs)

Shadab comes again

IND 45/4 (10 Overs)

Nawaz continues

IND 41/4 (9 Overs)

Shadab continues

IND 38/4 (8 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz comes into the attack

IND 33/4 (7 Overs)

6.1: Axar sets off for a single that’s never there and is sent back… have Pakistan made a mess of this? It’s been sent upstairs. Rizwan fumbled the throw with Axar short of his ground, but what broke the stumps: ball or gloves? Kettleborough has made a decision… he says ball!

Shadab comes to bowl after the powerplay

IND 31/3 (6 Overs)

5.3: Back of a length, hostile line, and cramps SKY for room as he looks for his release shot, attempting to steer down to third with an open face. Instead, he can only feather through to Rizwan.

Haris continues

IND 22/2 (5 Overs)

Naseem replaces Shaheen

IND 17/2 (4 Overs)

3.2: Just a fraction full of a good length, and Rohit’s feet were footed to the crease. He poked tentatively, playing away from his body, and a thickish edge flew quickly to Iftikhar.

Haris Rauf comes into the attack

IND 10/1 (3 Overs)

Shaheen continues

IND 7/1 (2 Overs)

1.5: Just short of a good length, Rahul was looking to steer it away with soft hands and an open face. But he could only manage to inside-edge into his back pad, and then onto the stumps.

Naseem Shah to bowl from the other end

IND 5/0 (1 Over)

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul come out to open the innings for India. Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (2nd INNINGS)

Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed starred with glittering half-centuries to save the day for Pakistan after initial setbacks as Pakistan managed a respectable 160-run target against arch-rivals India in the high-voltage ICC T20 World Cup 2022, here on Sunday.

PAK 159/7 (20 Overs)

Kumar to bowl the final over

PAK 149/7 (19 Overs)

Arshdeep continues

PAK 135/7 (18 Overs)

Shami replaces Pandya

PAK 125/7 (17 Overs)

16.4: Asif looks to duck, it doesn’t get up as much as he expects, and he ends up having to get his bat up to protect his face, and ends up gloving the ball behind to DK/

Arshdeep comes back

PAK 116/6 (16 Overs)

15.5: Nawaz is looking to create room, and Pandya bowls a short-of-length ball at his body. Tries to run it down past short third, who has just moved into the circle, and the extra bounce ensures he only manages to glove it to the keeper.

Pandya comes to bowl his last

PAK 106/5 (15 Overs)

Ashwin comes again

PAK 99/5 (14 Overs)

13.6: Angling into middle and leg, so there’s very little room to work with either. Clears his front leg, goes hard with that diagonal bat, and hits it straight down the throat of deep midwicket.

13.2: Shadab looks to take it on. Clears his front leg to slog over the on side, but it’s a hard thing to do against this sort of length. Goes with a diagonal bat, slices it a little, and only succeeds in launching it straight to long-on.

Pandya replaces Axar

PAK 96/3 (13 Overs)

12.2: Full, with late tail into the right-hander. Again, Iftikhar looks to punch down the ground without getting forward, just clears his front leg and throws a straight bat at the ball, and this time the ball sneaks past his inside edge to thud into his back leg.

Shami comes back

PAK 91/2 (12 Overs)

Axar Patel comes into the attack

PAK 70/2 (11 Overs)

Ashwin continues

PAK 60/2 (10 Overs)

Pandya replaces Shami

PAK 50/2 (9 Overs)

Ravichandran Ashwin replaces Pandya

PAK 44/2 (8 Overs)

Shami continues

PAK 41/2 (7 Overs)

Hardik Pandya comes into the attack

PAK 32/2 (6 Overs)

Mohammed Shami comes to bowl his first

PAK 24/2 (5 Overs)

Kumar comes again

PAK 15/2 (4 Overs)

3.6: Arshdeep drops short, Rizwan takes on the hook shot but is rushed for pace by the extra bounce. Fine leg is set deep on the rope and completes a straightforward catch.

Arshdeep continues from the other end

PAK 10/1 (3 Overs)

Kumar continues

PAK 6/1 (2 Overs)

1.1: Full, swinging into the pads. Babar was looking to work it away with a roll of the wrists but it skidded into his shin. Ultra-Edge confirms no bat involved. Pitched in line, impact in line, hitting leg stump three-quarters of the way up! Babar trudges off.

Arshdeep Singh to bowl from the other end

PAK 1/0 (1 Over)

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan come out to open the innings for Pakistan. Bhuveneshwar Kumar to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs INDIA (1st INNING)

MELBOURNE: India won the toss and elected to bowl first in the high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Group 2 match of the Super round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2022, here at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah

India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar,  Arshdeep Singh

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 11, India 8, Pakistan 3

Even the forecast of a wretched weather has failed to dampen the spirits before a high octane India-Pakistan T20 World Cup cricket in Melbourne on Sunday.

There was cacophony as fans beat drums, there was loud music from both countries, charged-up banters around the iconic MCG as blue and green shirts swamped the pathways to the MCG. Expectedly, Indian fans had outnumbered their rivals as well as on the level of decibel.

Still, the personnel in green did not budge

One frisky Pakistan fan, Mohammad Wahab from Lahore, won the battle of words and slogans. The young boy mimicked how KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will get bamboozled by Shaheen Shah Afridi in reference to lanky Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi’s triple strikes in last year’s T20 World Cup match in Dubai. That formed the basis of Pakistan’s incredulous ten-wicket win over India — their first win in 13 attempts against India in all ICC World Cup matches (20 or 50 overs). Not a single soul outside the MCG and millions around the globe would like rain to make the occasion a damp squib.

And hopefully nature will also relent. The Bureau of Meteorology also seems to be avid fans of Indo-Pak cricket as they keep changing the forecast — from 90 percent rain to 30 late on Saturday night. It will further lesse, for sure it has to.
Despite Indian fans terming it a “fluke” and “thing of the past” Wahab and his coterie were fully charged, not sparing any moment in reminding the ten wicket thrashing and one win in two Asia Cup games. Inside the stadium, the men in blue were doing their drills, knowing their unpredictable opponents would throw a challenge like no other.

[totalpoll id=”241845″]

Rohit played down the fear of rain

“We need to come here thinking that it’s a 40-over game,” said Rohit. “We will be ready for that. If the situation demands that it’s a shorter game, we will be ready for that as well.”

His counterpart, Babar Azam also feels rain or no rain remain out of control. “We have not been singing lullabies ‘rain, rain go away,” because it’s out of our control. We can control what we can control. It would be good to have a full match because millions of fans are waiting for this match,” said Babar, who led Pakistan to a semi-final finish in his first experience as captain.

Rohit will experience that for the first time here. Rohit admitted Pakistan has always posed challenges and to face that challenge India will be short on weapons. Their ace, spearhead and wicket taking bowler Jaspit Bumrah is not here in Australia after a recurrence of back problem last month. His replacement Mohammad Shami has experience but not the reputation of Bumrah. Shami was made a villain after India’s defeat in Dubai last year for conceding 43 runs in just 3.5 overs.

“I don’t want to use the word ‘pressure’ because pressure is constant, I would like to take this as a challenge. This Pakistani team is a very challenging team. I have been playing against Pakistan since 2007. Some matches we lost and some we won but the challenge of playing Pakistan has always been there.
“Pakistan were good on the day of the T20 World Cup match (in 2021). They were also good at the Asia Cup. Luckily for us we gotta play them twice at the Asia Cup, we don’t get to play them a lot. We got to gauge them, their strengths, weaknesses.”

Last year India failed to qualify for the semi-finals — a lacking that Rohit felt was addressed in 30-plus matches this year. That doubles down to the fact that India has not won a major ICC event since the 2013 triumph in the Champions Trophy in England.

“It’s there at the back of our players’ mind (not winning an international event for nine years), but it’s important to just keep that away and just focus on the job at hand. It’s my personal belief that if you think too much of the past, I think you won’t be able to focus on the present.”

Pakistan’s body language has looked better, igone if that’s my bias. But the fact is that a tri-series win in New Zealand has boosted the confidence of this young team. “We are focusing on the match and hope that we are able to execute our plans come Sunday.”

While India will miss their spearhead Bumrah, Pakistan will sigh a relief that their linchpin of the fast bowling attack Shaheen Shah Afridi has returned after a knee injury. Shaheen will accompany Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah — the trio playing for the first time in an international match for the first time. If Shaheen is lethal, Haris is venomous, having played for Melbourne Star in the Big Bash in 2019. He took 20 wickets in ten games including a hat trick. Naseem Shah has also sent down shivers in Indian batting during the Asia Cup, leaving the rivals wondering how Pakistan can produce a battery of fast bowlers.

“The way our fast bowlers are performing, Shaheen [Shah Afridi] has come back, [Mohammad] Wasim, and especially the way Haris [Rauf] has improved his bowling and grown his game, our confidence in our bowling unit is quite high,” said Babar. “So, on that day, we will try to execute our plans. We have a good, strong bowling attack and that is acclaimed by all.”

Babar ruled out top order batter Fakhar Zaman from Sunday’s game saying the left-hander is not hundred percent and it would not be a good idea to risk him.
So once more the battle lines are drawn. The fans are ready with nearly a packed 100,000 MCG — already having an iconic status in world cricket — will add another chapter by hosting an Indo-Pakistan T20I for the first time. Fingers crossed, rain stays away and it proves to be a cracking game.

Fans around the world do not expect anything less.

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 11, India 8, Pakistan 3

MELBOURNE: Low chances of rain here ahead of the much-hyped clash between Pakistan and India in the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup today (Sunday). 

The match will begin at 1pm today at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a cricket stadium that can house 100,000 spectators.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the tickets for the blockbuster Pak V Ind match were sold out within minutes of going on sale.

The last time Pakistan and India squared in an ICC event was in last year’s T20 World Cup where Babar Azam’s side thrashed Rohit Sharma’s men to clinch a record-setting 10-wicket win.

The arch-rivals met twice in this year’s Asia Cup. They won a game each in the regional 20-over championship. 

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Shami.

MELBOURNE: India’s captain Rohit Sharma claimed that his side is ready for a shorter game as well if the rain interrupts the most-talked clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 between Pakistan and India on Sunday.

Rohit, while addressing the pre-match press conference here, Rohit emphasised the need to acclimatize to the circumstances if rain disrupts a game.

“I’ve been hearing about Melbourne weather for a while now, and it keeps changing,” Sharma said. “You don’t really know what is going to happen tomorrow. The things that are in our control, we’ll try and control that.

“We need to come here thinking that it’s a 40-over game. We will be ready for that. If the situation demands that it’s a shorter game, we will be ready for that, as well. A lot of the guys have played such kinds of games before.

“Luckily, we played one game in India against Australia which was an eight-over game. I don’t think it’s going to make much of a difference, but we just certainly need to come here very well prepared.”

Rohit then replied to a query regarding whether the Indian cricket team should tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, saying the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) will make a decision.

“The BCCI will decide whether India will tour Pakistan for Asia Cup or not. We are just focusing on our match tomorrow,” he said.

On a question regarding the unavailability of their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and top all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit insisted that the Indian team is strong enough to cope with the challenge.

“The bowlers, who have come with us in the World Cup, have played enough matches,” Rohit said.

The Indian captain then went on to respond to a query regarding India’s inability to win the ICC tournament and stated that he takes it as a challenge.

“India not winning the ICC tournament is not a pressure but a challenge,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will start their T20 World Cup campaign on Sunday (October 23) as they take on their traditional rivals India.

READ: England win toss, opt to field first against Afghanistan in T20 WC Super 12s

MELBOURNE: Left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the most-talked clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 between Pakistan and India, scheduled for October 23.

According to the latest development, the hard-hitting batter failed to recover from his injury, which he sustained in the recently-held Asia Cup 2022 as he landed awkwardly on his right knee.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, during the pre-match press conference, confirmed Fakhar’s unavailability for the all-important clash against India on Sunday.

“Fakhar Zaman is not fully fit which is why he won’t be available for our first match,” said Babar.

Following Fakhar’s exclusion, Pakistan are likely to carry on with Shan Masood at Number 3 as he has been declared fit after being hit on the head during the team’s training session on Friday.

“Shan Masood is fit and he cleared all the tests. He is ready for tomorrow,” Babar shared.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) updated on Shan’s injury status and shared the left-handed batter has cleared all of his medical tests and only sustained ‘superficial bruising’.

“All of Shan Masood´s neurological observations are normal. His CT scan only shows superficial bruising where the ball struck him,” PCB said in a statement.

“He will be re-tested [on Saturday] for concussion”, the PCB added.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will start their T20 World Cup campaign on Sunday (October 23) as they take on their traditional rivals India.

READ: Conway, Allen power New Zealand to 200/3 against Australia in T20 WC

MELBOURNE: Pakistan captain Babar Azam asserted that he will try to keep things simple in the much-anticipated clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 between two arch-rivals – Pakistan and India.

Babar, while talking to the media ahead of the high-octane clash of the T20 World Cup Super 12s against India is hopeful to take less pressure off the big match against India.

“No doubt it’s a high-pressure game but we will try to keep it simple and keep faith in our abilities and the practice we’ve done,” said Babar.

“It is going to be a good game of cricket while I am unsure about how the wicket would react,” he added.

Skipper Babar then requested the Pakistan cricket fans for their support and is hopeful of doing well in the mega event.

“We request our fans for their support and at the same time we will try to give our best and do well for our country,” he said.

The right-handed batter then opined regarding a heart whelming moment on captains’ day ahead of the commencement of the T20 World Cup when his Australian counterpart presented him with a cake on his 28th birthday.

“I felt really humbled by his gesture,” he stated.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will start their T20 World Cup campaign on Sunday (October 23) as they take on their traditional rivals India.

READ: Australia win toss, elect to bowl against New Zealand in first Super 12s fixture

BRISBANE: Pakistan cricket team is set to start its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 campaign as the green shirts departed for Melbourne on Thursday.

Amid their stay here, the national team played two warm-up matches against England and Afghanistan respectively and also participated in a training session.

Following their arrival in Melbourne, the team will enjoy a rest day today before hitting the nets on Friday.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will start their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign against arch-rivals India on Sunday (October 23) at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

According to weather reports, there is a chance of 85% that it will rain in Melbourne on Sunday which might affect the much-anticipated clash between the arch-rivals.

READ: UAE win toss, elect to bat first against Namibia in T20 WC