‘Defeat against India will dent Pakistan’s semifinal chances’

DUBAI, OCT 21: Former Australia leg-spinner Brad Hogg believes that defeat against India will dent Pakistan to make it into the semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup.

The Super 12 stage of the tournament will begin from October 23 but the majority of the cricket fans across the globe are waiting for the highly-anticipated clash between the arch-rivals on October 24.

“If Pakistan get beaten by India in the first game, they’ve got a short turnaround to play New Zealand,” Hogg said while speaking with Deep Dasgupta on his YouTube channel.

He believes that if Pakistan lose against Virat Kohli’s men in the first game, they won’t be making it through to the semifinals but India will.

However, despite that he kept Pakistan and Indian among the four teams favourite to qualify for the knockouts of the tournament.  

“The teams that I think are going to go to the semis are England and the West Indies from Group 1 and from Group 2 I think it’s going to be Pakistan and India,” the former spinner added.

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Shakib stars as Bangladesh down Oman in must-win game

 

All-rounder scored 40, claimed three wickets in the match

MUSCAT, OCT 20: Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round performance has given Bangladesh a great chance to join the Super 12 teams as they beat Oman in a must-win tie of the ICC T20 World Cup.

The side successfully defended a respectable 153-run total by reducing the co-host to 128-9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Only resistance from Oman batters came from Jatinder Singh’s bat, who scored 40 off 33 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.

He was supported by Kashyap Prajapati, who scored 21 off 18 balls.

For Bangladesh, the star of the show with the ball was Mustafizur Rahman, who claimed figures of four for 36 in his four-over spell.

Meanwhile, Shakib bowled a brilliant spell, where he claimed three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat, the Bengal Tigers went off to a slow start and lost two quick wickets with just 21 runs on the scoreboard.

Shakib and Naim made a vital 80-run stand for the third wicket to bring the team back into the game.

Apart from that, no other Bangladesh batter managed to resist Oman’s bowling attack. Shakib departed after scoring a quick 42 off 29 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Meanwhile, Naim scored 64 off 50 balls which includes three boundaries and four maximums. The team was bowled out for 153 in their allotted 20 overs

For Oman, Fayaz Butt and Bilal Khan shared three wickets each.

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Courtesy Samaa news

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T20 World Cup: Naim, Shakib fire Bangladesh to 153

 

This is a must win game for the Bengal Tiger

Muscat, OCT 19: Mohammad Naim scored a half-century, while Shakib Al Hasan smashed a quick 42 to lead Bangladesh to a respectable 153 runs in their must-win game against Oman in the ICC T20 World Cup.

After opting to bat, the Bengal Tigers went off to a slow start and lost two quick wickets with just 21 runs on the scoreboard.

Shakib and Naim made a vital 80-run stand for the third wicket to bring the team back into the game.

Apart from that, no other Bangladesh batter managed to resist Oman’s bowling attack. Shakib departed after scoring a quick 42 off 29 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Meanwhile, Naim scored 64 off 50 balls which includes three boundaries and four maximums. The team was bowled out for 153 in their allotted 20 overs

For Oman, Fayaz Butt and Bilal Khan shared three wickets each.

Bangladesh suffered an upset defeat against Scotland, while Oman registered a convincing 10-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea.

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Courtesy Samaa news

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T20 World Cup: Pakistan’s likely playing XI against India on Sunday

 

• Arch-rivals to clash on October 24

DUBAI, OCT 19: Pakistan cricket team think tank is expected to include seniors and experienced players in the playing XI in the all-important clash against India in the ICC T20 World Cup.

The arch-rivals are set to lock horns on October 24 at the Dubai International Stadium.

The warm-up game against the defending champions West Indies, which Pakistan won by seven wickets, is the clear indication, that how the team is going to line up.

Although reports suggest that there could be one change on cards in the line-up that featured against the Windies.

One of these two – in-form batter Haider Ali and hard hitter Asif Ali – could feature in the playing XI against India.

Asif could be preferred over young Haider, because of having more experience in international cricket.

This means Pakistan could line up something like:

Batters: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali.

Bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf.

All-rounders: Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.

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Courtesy Samaa news

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Pakistan beat West Indies in T20 World Cup warm-up match

 

DUBAI, OCT 18: Pakistan have defeated West Indies in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup today (Monday).

Chasing a modest target of 131 runs, the Men-in-Green comfortably went over the line with seven wickets in hand in 15.3 overs.

The star of the run-chase was captain Babar Azam, who led from the front and scored a brilliant half-century. The right-hander scored 50 off 41 balls with the help of six boundaries and a maximum.

He was well supported by Fakhar Zaman, who remained unbeaten on 46 off 24 balls. In that knock, the left-hander hit four boundaries and two gigantic sixes.

Earlier, after opting to bat, the defending champions never looked comfortable with the bat. Their only resistance against Pakistan’s bowling attack came from Chris Gayle (20), Shimron Hetmyer (28) and captain Kieron Pollard (23)’s bats.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf had a relatively expensive outing with the bowl, as they conceded 41 and 32 runs respectively in their four-over each spells.

The duo also claimed two wickets each for the winning side. Meanwhile, the star with the ball was Imad Wasim, who bowled an economical three-over spell, where he conceded only six runs and claimed a wicket as well.

They were well supported by pacer Hasan Ali, who also claimed two wickets for 21 runs in his four-over spell.

The Men-in-Green will face South Africa in next warm-up fixture.

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