T20 World Cup 2022: Pakistan tackle Afghanistan of their remaining warm-up match on the Gabba on Wednesday. Babar Azam’s males shall be hoping to repair their middle-order woes forward of the big-ticket conflict towards India on Sunday.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 18, 2022 23:06 IST
Babar Azam will look to have a success within the center towards Afghanistan (AFP Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan will look to go into the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup in Australia with profitable momentum by their aspect as they put together to face rivals Afghanistan of their remaining warm-up match of the match. Pakistan will tackle Afghanistan on the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday, hours forward of India’s warm-up match towards New Zealand.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have had some heated contests up to now, which incorporates the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup earlier this 12 months with Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmed and Pakistan’s Asif Ali practically exchanging blows on the sector in a last-over thriller. Pakistan received the stated contest to sprint India’s hopes of reaching the ultimate as Babar Azam’s males arrange a title conflict with Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka, who finally received the match within the UAE.
The warm-up match is unlikely to be performed with such fervour as each groups shall be focussed on getting their mixture proper within the lead-up to the Super 12 stage. Pakistan will look to keep away from any undesirable prevalence as they are going to be up towards arch-rivals India of their Super 12 opener on the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.
Pakistan headed into the T20 World Cup on the again of a positive outcome within the T20I tri-series in New Zealand whereby they defeated the hosts within the remaining in Christchurch earlier this month. Pakistan acquired acclimatised to the situations in New Zealand which might have supplied them a glimpse of the situations in Australia.
PAK SEEK MIDDLE-ORDER SOLUTION
However, they have been blown away of their first warm-up match towards pre-tournament favourites England on the Gabba on Monday. Pakistan huffed and puffed to 160 of their quota of 20 overs solely to see England chasing down the goal in simply 14.4 overs. It was a harsh actuality examine for Pakistan however the Asian giants have been with out their captain Babar Azam and World No. 1 T20I batter Mohammad Rizwan for the warm-up match. Both Babar and Rizwan have been rested and Shadab Khan led the crew of their absence.
While Babar and Rizwan’s return will strengthen their batting unit, the failure of middle-order batters like Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali and Haider Ali is a long-standing concern for Pakistan. It was heartening to see Shaan Masood being proactive for his 22-ball 39 however the left-hander opened the innings and made use of the powerplay.
Pakistan’s under-performing middle-order will look to return to the social gathering towards Afghanistan and head into the conflict towards India with some confidence.
Pakistan’s bowling is certainly one of their sturdy factors however the method wherein England batters took it to the cleaners would have been alarming. Shaheen Afridi, who was enjoying his first aggressive match after coming back from an harm, will look to bowl greater than what he did towards England (2 overs) as he would need to be in good rhythm forward of the India conflict.
Pakistan may also need to zero in on their pace-bowling line-up as they’ve an issue of loads. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah look sure starters and a name on Shaheen shall be taken after the 2nd warm-up match.
On the opposite hand, Afghanistan would have taken confidence from their complete 62-run win over Bangladesh of their first warm-up match. A win towards Pakistan, albeit in a warm-up match, will solely increase their confidence additional as they put together for his or her Super 12 opener towards England on October 22.
