A confident Pakistan will face old nemesis Australia in the semi finals of the T20 World Cup at Dubai International Stadium.
After seeing off India, a team they had never beaten in any World Cup, Pakistan square up against Australia, a team they have never beaten in an ICC Knockout game.
Australia have clearly held an upper hand in crunch games against the Men in Green, ICC World Cup final 1999, the last time Pakistan were running through teams and then came unstuck in the final against Australia, 2010 T20 World Cup semi finals, when Michael Hussey plundered 22 of final four balls of Saeed Ajmal to give Australia a freak victory. And then 2015 World Cup quarter final, when a fiery Wahab Riaz spell went in vain.
Besides this Australia are a team known to win trophies, having won 4 World Cups from 1999-2015. They might not be the most glamorous side these days, but they know how to get the job done. However T20 World Cup is a trophy they are yet to get their hands on. Even their best sides of yesteryears have fell short in achieving glory in the shortest format of the game.
This World Cup they have navigated their way through a tough group, with only a limp loss against a strong England side a sign of worry. But they have emerged from that and made it to the business end of the tournament, where they know how to get the job done.
Pakistan have had such a fluent tournament that even their fans are taken aback. A win for the ages against India, then beating New Zealand and seeing off the rest with qualities not associated with them. A near perfect bowling line up, a batting unit in form from openers to middle order, playing with calmness reflective of their captain Babar Azam, this is a Pakistan side unlike any other seen at any world event.
History makers already they will have a fantastic chance to add to their growing reputation, if they can end their hoodoo against Australia and exorcise the ghosts of past.
In UAE Pakistan seem invincible at the moment, but in Australia they have a bogey team, an old nemesis who always seem to find a way to win big tournaments.
Will Australia take care of business as usual? or will Pakistan continue to display its new found confidence to finally beat Australia in a knockout game? We find out tonight.
Team update:
Australia (probable): 1 David Warner 2 Aaron Finch (capt) 3 Mitchell Marsh 4 Steve Smith 5 Glenn Maxwell 6 Marcus Stoinis 7 Matthew Wade (wk) 8 Pat Cummins 9 Mitchell Starc 10 Adam Zampa 11 Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan (probable):: 1 Babar Azam (capt) 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 3 Fakhar Zaman 4 Mohammad Hafeez/Haider Ali 5 Shoaib Malik 6 Asif Ali 7 Shadab Khan 8 Imad Wasim 9 Hasan Ali/Mohammad Nawaz 10 Haris Rauf 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi.
There was a mighty scare for Pakistan as both Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Rizwan had contacted flu a day before the semi final. Both players missed training and serious doubts were raised over their availability.
However, their covid tests returned negative, and they are said to be feeling much better on the eve of the match and are likely to feature for the big clash. The team manager has confirmed the two players are fit and ready to participate.
Pakistan vs Australia
WHERE TO WATCH:
The match will be aired live on Star Sports channels – Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD, and DD Sports. The game will also be available on Hotstar app for streaming.
TIMING:
The game begins at 7:30 PM (IST) on Thursday (November 11).
