Riaz has slightly fallen off following a successful PSL, where he scalped 15 wickets from nine games, but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has backed him to deliver in a big match such as this.
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Cricket is by far the most popular sports in the sub-continent and India and Pakistan make up for fascinating cricketing rivalry stoking passions in both countries whenever the two teams clash.
Afridi blasted a 19-ball 49 and returned to take 2-27 in a personally satisfying outing for the flamboyant 36-year-old all-rounder.
Afridi starred with bat and ball as he skippered Pakistan to a comprehensive 55-run victory against Bangladesh in Kolkata, drawing a line under his team’s troubled build-up. Similar explanation awaits this year too for the cricket.
Tamim Iqbal has been in a great form lately and scored century in qualifying game whereas Soumya Sarkar had played a magnificent innings against Pakistan in Asia Cup, but this time Mohammad Amir made sure that these two could not hit many boundaries in the six overs. It was just a game and the better team on the ground won.
Then came a spectacular revival. When the insults were being thrown, the inquiries were starting, and the general chaos was ensuing after Pakistan’s Asia Cup nightmare earlier this month, he felt the pain as acutely as any fan.
Legendary player Imran Khan and former superstar Wasim Akram will meet the Pakistan team just before the match to give “experience-based pressure-assuage tips” to the players. If the results still aren’t coming, then what else can you do? I thought Pakistan bowled well as a group, especially the captain and were always in control.
India came into the World Twenty20 as the favourite with 10 wins in 11 previous Twenty20 games but crashed to a shock 47-run defeat to New Zealand in the Super 10 stage opener in Nagpur.
Bangladesh don’t have a big hitter. This time it was those around him that sorely let him down. India is hosting it but not allowing Commission officials to be present at venues where our team is playing”, the official said.
As it is, the situation is recoverable. On March 19, Green Shirts will face off arch rival India at Kolkata’s Eden Garden stadium.
Prediction: There is no doubt that the narrative has shifted somewhat going into Saturday’s showdown.
After their stumbles in Nagpur, India’s frontline batsmen Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli will have to find their feet against a hostile Pakistan pace attack which includes the in-form Mohammad Amir. While there was perhaps some complacency in their opening outing, it is also true that they have struggled of late on low-scoring, turning pitches.
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Afridi had been anxious about Pakistan’s batting inconsistency and mentioned it at the toss but the all-rounder had no reasons to complain on Wednesday as the top order fired in unison. And it is hard to imagine India’s quality batting order all failing for a second game in a row.
