Pakistan opener, Mohammad Rizwan and middle-order batter, Shoaib Malik missed the practice on the eve of the semi-final clash against Australia. The match is set to be taking place on November 11 in Dubai. According to media reports, both cricketers are down with the flu but have tested negative for Covid-19. A final call on their participation will be taken following an assessment on the morning of the game.
Informing the same, Pakistan journalist Saqib Ul Islam tweeted, “Breaking:Dubai. Pakistan Team is practicing at ICC Academy before the big Semi Final #PAKvsAUS but Shoaib Malik & M. Rizwan were absent due to temperature & flu symptoms. Their Covid test is negative, says media manager PCB. They’ll be accessed again tomorrow morning #T20WorldCup.”
Breaking:Dubai
Pakistan Team is practicing at ICC Academy before the big Semi Final #PAKvsAUS but Shoaib Malik & M. Rizwan were absent due to temperature & flu symptoms.
Their Covid test is negative, says media manager PCB.
They’ll be accessed again tomorrow morning #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Ksr9PaIOCV— Saqib Ul Islam (@SaqibIslam) November 10, 2021
Pakistan fans will hope it’s nothing major as both Rizwan and Malik will a crucial part of their batting units. Rizwan is in the form of his life across all formats while Malik has shown his class at different stages during this tournament. Pakistan’s batting is heavily reliant on the opening duo of Babar Azam and Rizwan.
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If the latter is deemed unavailable, it could expose their middle-order. Speaking of Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batter is currently the leading run-getter in international T20s this calendar year. In 19 innings, he has amassed as many as 966 runs at an average of 87.81 with a strike rate of 137.02 He has ten 50+ scores which also includes a hundred.
Rizwan ICC t20 Ranking 4#PAKvsNAM pic.twitter.com/yJUtQlqlyr
— Ballay Baaz (@Ballaybaaz) November 2, 2021
Mohammad Rizwan has successfully carried his form in the ongoing World Cup. In five games, he has scored 214 runs at an average of 71.33 and a strike rate of 127.38 with two 50+ scores. Malik, on the other hand, has held the middle-order beautifully. The former skipper smashed an 18-ball 50 against Scotland, the joint fastest in this World Cup with KL Rahul.
