Its time to discuss about the “Unpredictable Pakistan”. Their last success came in 2017 where they beat rivals India in the final of Champions Trophy. Their performance changes every single bowl. Although they didn’t lift the T20 World Cup since their title winning year 2009. They reached semi final in 2010 and 2012. In 2010, they outclassed by the special inning from Mike Hussey and in 2014 they failed to chase modest total of 139 runs vs Sri Lanka. In 2014 they failed to reach semi final. So, one time champions, one time runner ups and 2 times semi finalist in the 5 T20 World Cup’s shows one can never take Pakistan lightly as they can cause high upsets in their day.
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| Image Source - Google | Image by - Sarang Bhalerao |
Journey of T20 World Cup 2016
Its ICC T20 World Cup 2016. They didn’t had great start of 2016 as they lost T20 series vs New Zealand followed by defeat vs Bangladesh in the Asia Cup resulted in failing to reach of the event. They was obviously low in confidence but when its comes to Pakistan, no can take them lightly. Lets see their journey of ICC T20 World Cup 2016.
1st match vs Bangladesh at Eden Gardens
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| Man of the Match and skipper of Pakistan team Shahid Afridi (right) with Md Hafeez. Image Source - Google | Image by - MERCENIE TEAM |
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in their
opening game at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Pakistan openers Sharjeel Khan and
Ahmed Shehzad gave Pakistan a good start. Although Pakistan lost Sharjeel Khan
18(10) in the 3rd over but Ahmed Shehzad and Md Hafeez played with
attacking mind set and scored 55 runs in the powerplay. Both these batsman
scored their respective half centuries. Ahmed Shehzad 52(39) and Md Hafeez
64(42) gave lower batsman a chance to explore in the later part of the innings.
They both fell between 3 overs. Its time for the Boom Boom show as their
skipper Shahid Afridi scored 49 runs off
just 19 balls with 4 fours and as many sixes and took the total past 200.
Pakistan scored 201/5 in 20 overs.
The task is big for Bangladesh and it seemed like mountain when they lost
Soumya Sarkar off the 3rd ball. Shahid Afridi removed Sabbir Rehman
25(19) in the 6th over to left Bangladesh trailing badly in the
chase. Bangladesh scored 45/2 in the powerplay. They lost wickets regularly
post powerplay. Tamim Iqbal 24(20), Mahmudullah 4(5) and Mushfiqur Rahim 18(21)
fall cheaply and left alone Shakib Al Hasan to chase 202 runs. Shakib Al Hasan
scored unbeaten 50 runs off 40 ball. Pakistana won the game comfortably by 55
runs. Boom Boom Afridi awarded Man of the Match for his 19 ball 49 and 2/27.
Pakistan got the start they wanted.
2nd match vs India at Eden Gardens
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| Another below par performance by Pakistan team vs India in ICC tournament. Image Source - Google | Image by - espncricinfo |
Its much awaited INDIA vs PAKISTAN contest. Indian Team came in the match with the embarrassing defeat to New Zealand and Pakistan won his first match vs Bangladesh. Is previous results really matter in this contest? Answer is a big NO. Their rivalry is one of the best in the world and since its a World Cup match, every member of each team want to contribute to their team. Also, Pakistan record vs India in World Cup's is still daunting them as Indian Team blanked them every time and then.
Match was delayed due to wet outfield to make the contest 18 overs. India won the toss and elected to bowl. Pakistan looked on the back foot from ball one. The strategy to save wickets for the last didn't proved right and current rate was never in their control. After 12 overs, Pakistan was trailing 60/3 and that's never gonna help them against the strong Indian batting line-up. Indian bowlers kept the tight line throughout 18 overs. As a result, Pakistan made just 118/5 in their 18 overs. They knew its a below par score against this Indian Team. But since its a India-Pakistan game, no team would give up easily. Once again Indian operners failed to give a good start to the team and both Rohit Sharma(10) and Sikhar Dhawan(6) fell cheaply. Suresh Raina followed Dhawan and out for a golden duck leaving India 23/3 inside 5 overs. There was glimpse of victory in the Pakistan camp but savior Virat Kolhi stood up to the occasion. He is vey well supported by Yuvraj Singh24(23) that proved vital as Pakistan bowlers attacking Indian batsman quike comfortably. Virat Kohli scored unbeaten 55* and won the match for Indian and was adjusted Man of the Match. Brilliant inning by Virat Kohli made it 11-0 in favor of India in World Cup's.
3rd Match vs New Zealand at Mohali
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| Image Source - Google | Image by - Kaustubh Mayekar |
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first with an aim to seal a Semi Final spot and Pakistan to fight to extend their presence in ICC T20 World Cup 2016. New Zealand got off to a good start, all thanks to Veteran Martin Guptill. He smashed Pakistan bowlers all around the park. He along with skipper Kane Williamson, who scored scratchy 17(21), scored 55 runs in the powerplay. Md Irfan gave Pakistan the much needed breakthrough by taking the wicket of K Williamson. Collin Munro followed his skipper in the next over. Pakistan somehow managed to put brake on run rate but Martin Guptill 80(48) with the help of Corey Anderson 21(14) and Veteran Ross Taylor 36*(23), helped New Zealand to post 180 on the board. Sharjeel Khan 47(25) gave Pakistan a perfect start. He and S Ahmed 30(32) scored 66 runs in the powerplay to give Pakistan the much required momentum. All they just need to carry on from there but New Zealand bowlers strike back and got rid of S Ahmed and K Latif to put Pakistan under pressure. Skipper Shahid Afridi scored quickfire 19 runs off just 9 balls and from there onward New Zealand bowlers didn’t allowed Pakistan batsman to score free runs. Pakistan fall short of 22 runs and New Zealand sealed a spot for Semis. Martin Guptill, for his 80 runs knock, adjusted Man of the Match. This is ordinary performance by Pakistan and they are on verge of elimination after this match.
4th match vs Australia at Mohali
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| Dismal performance by Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup 2016 and it ended with a defeat against Australia. Image Source - Google | Image by - The Newspaper's Sports Reporter |
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia while trying to score quickly, lost 3 early wickets. In form Khawaja(21), Aaron Finch(15) and out of form David Warner(9) got out cheaply. The one thing that Australia had was good run rate. They were 57/3 when Finch got out in 7.2 overs. Its now upto Reliable Smith and attacking Maxwell. They didn't disappointed. Skipper Smith score unbeaten 61*. Glenn Maxwell scored 30 runs off just 18 balls to let his skipper set for the big inning. Maxwell got out and Shane Watson,who devoted into the lower middle order, came. This move proved vital, he scored quick runs at the end. Steve Smith played unorthodox shot against pacer Wahab Riaz was eye catching. Smith and Waston 44*(21) took Australian total to 193/4 and gave Pakistan a mountain to climb. Pakistan's chase was not good enough as opener Ahmed Shehzad(1) fall cheaply. Sharjeel Khan(30), Khalid Latif(46) and Umar Akmal(32) got the start but none of them converted into a match winning knock. Skipper Shahid Afridi scored only 14 runs off 7 balls. Veteran Shoaib Malik somehow kept Pakistan team in the chase with 40*(20) but James Faulkner magic on the other end proved too hard to handle for other batsman. As a result, Australia survived another day in the T20 World Cup 2016 and won the match by 21 runs. James Faulkner was awarded for his 5 wicket hall. He ended up with the figure 4-0-27-5.
Expectations in T20 World Cup 2020
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| Image Source - Google | Image by - cricket.com.au |
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