Pakistan will be locking horns with Australia in the second Semi-Final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the 11th of November. This will be the fifth T20 WC Semi-Finals for the second-ranked Pakistan team while the sixth-ranked Aussies will be making their fourth appearance. Pakistan is the only unbeaten team in this edition so far, whereas Australia faced their only defeat at the hands of England in their third league stage match.
Pakistan and Australia have faced each other in 23 T20Is so far, with Pakistan currently leading the head-to-head records by 13-9. In the 6 games that these two sides have met in the T20 World Cups, both the teams have won 3 each, with Australia winning the latest one (2016 T20 WC) by 21 runs.
WATCH – Shaheen Afridi mocks Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul after their dismissals
Pakistan has been playing some dominating cricket this season and has blown away every side that came in its way, the team seems to have come here with a strong purpose and plan, and is executing those to perfection. It will need a comprehensive team effort from the Aussies to reach teh final of the T20 World Cup 2021.
Pakistan
The team management will be nervously waiting for the fitness confirmation of Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik as they missed training on the eve of the match owing to flu symptoms. But they’re expected to take their respective places and that should allow Pakistan to go with the unchanged XI that they’ve stuck with right through. Pakistan has gone at less than run-an-over but only lost two wickets in 30 powerplay overs so far.
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There are certain chances that Fakhar Zaman will be held back for the leg-spinner if the openers do fail to put on a partnership. Pakistan will rely heavily on Shaheen Shah Afridi and Imad Wasim to break Australia’s opening partnership and win the powerplay with the ball.
Probable XI: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Australia
Australia has been using a mix of Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell for their fifth bowling quota. And despite Ashton Agar’s impressive record against Pakistan, he’s likely to miss out. The game could well be decided by the two explosive left-arm fast bowlers on either side, if Afridi or Starc can knock a few over early in their spells. Maxwell is yet to fire. Many have picked him to be the Hussey from 2010, and if he does come off, Australia might well be headed for their second T20 World Cup final.
Probable XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Fantasy Suggestion #1:
Mohammad Rizwan, David Warner, Steve Smith (vc), Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Mitchell Marsh, Shadab Khan, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Shaheen Afridi, and Hasan Ali
Fantasy Suggestion #2:
Mohammad Rizwan, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman ()vc, Mitchell Marsh, Shadab Khan, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf
