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ICC T20 World Cup 2021

Pakistan At Home Away From Home Looks Ready For The Top Honor 

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2021-11-08 11:59:52
Pakistan At Home Away From Home Looks Ready For The Top Honor  [photo collected]

Pakistan VS Scotland Played at Sarjah on 7 November 2021
Pakistan 189/4 (Babar Azam 66, Shoaib Malik 54*, Mohammad Hafiz 31, Chris Greaves 2/43)
Scotland 117/6 (Richie Barrington 54*, George Munsey 17, Shadab Khan 2/14, Shaeen Shah Afridi 1/14, Harris Rauf 1/27, Hasan Ali 1/38)
Pakistan Won by 72 Runs
Player of The Match: Shoaib Malik.

In Australia at MCG when Imran Khan’s (Present Prime Minister of Pakistan) Cornered Tigers won the ICC World Cup beating England at MCG they had elements of luck going with them. But in 2021 at their home away from UAE Babar’s Army so far looks ready with required arms and ammunitions for a final crack at the trophy qualifying for the semi finals as the only team remaining unbeaten. 

Yesterday at Sarjah Pakistan rolled over associate member Scotland delivering 72 runs defeat like a champion horse in its gallop. Batting first Pakistan scored impressive 189/4 and then restricted Scotland to 117/6. The best thing for Pakistan is that they have played consistently so far, an unusual phenomenon for a team of unpredictable reputation. Anything can happen in knock out match. But another Pakistan England derby appears to be looking. 

Babar Azam continued his pristine batting form anchoring the innings with a well-paced 66 (his fourth half century in 5 matches of the world cup). This time it was not Rizwan, not Fakhar Zaman, not Asif ., but two veterans Shoiab Malik  playing an explosive unbeaten innings of 54 in only 18 deliveries and “Professor” Hafiz 31 in 19 that soared Pakistan score to 189/4 . 47 runs were scored in the last 19 balls of Pakistan Innings.

Chasing 185 against highly skilled Pakistan attack was way above the capability of Scotland. They did not do all that bad reaching 117 /6 in allotted overs. Richie Barrington remained not out scoring 54. Shadab Khan (2/14), Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/24), Harris Rauf (1/27), Hasan Ali (1/33) shared the wickets.

Points Table Group B 

Teams

Matches

Won

Lost

Points

NRR

Pakistan

5

5

0

10

  1..683

New Zealand

5

4

1

   8

  1.162

           

India

4

2

2

   4

  1.619

Afghanistan

5

2

3

   4

  1.053

Namibia

4

1

3

   2

-1.851

Scotland

5

0

5

   0

-3.543

This Pakistan team looked well geared up for the top honor.. They are the only team from South Asia (Asia to be exact) that survived for the knock out round. England, New Zealand and Australia are from other continents. 

The team is playing brilliant all round cricket at this moment. Babar Azam and Rizwan are among the top five batsmen of T20 cricket. Fakhar Zaman and Asif Ali are two blasters –power hitters. Shoiab and Hafiz are the most experienced campaigners.  as good as any pace attack at this moment. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim are also good spinners.  Finally, the team is fielding well. Mathhew Hayden must have instilled self belief in them. A Pakistan win for the interest of World Cricket would be great as they were cornered unfairly in the recent past with New Zealand withdrawing their team at the last moment and England suspending the scheduled tour. A perfect blend of brilliant young talents and past masters of the old Pakistan proved its potentials till now.

England and New Zealand were pre tournament favorites at ODI Champions and Test Cricket Champions. India and West Indies were knocked out. Pakistan and Australia have stormed into top four playing brilliant cricket. Any one of the four can win the championship. 

BDST: 1159 HRS, NOV 08, 2021
SMS

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