Pakistan will be seeking redemption as the Green Shirts face India later today during the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Although both countries are cricket powerhouses, head-to-head matches between them are rare. The two sides do not meet outside of official International Cricket Council (ICC) competitions, with their last Test match occurring in 2007.
Rohit Sharma’s India will face Babar Azam’s Pakistan in their Group A match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York — a newly built 34,000-capacity venue. The match is set to begin at 7:30 pm local time.
Tickets for this high-profile encounter sold out months ago. A loss in today’s match will significantly diminish Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the Super Eight stage of the 20-nation tournament.
Following a shocking loss to the USA, Babar acknowledged his team’s tendency to underestimate less established teams in major tournaments, admitting that they played well below their standard in Thursday’s match.
The ICC will set up its Official T20 World Cup Fanpark at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for today’s match, as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on X.
“Come one and all, enjoy the game on the biggest screens; with a musical concert and fun activities for all ages!” the PCB’s post read.
VIP Stand tickets can be booked at t20worldcup.bookme.pk, while entry to the general enclosures is free.
Pitch Condition
Unexpected results have raised concerns about the new pitches used in the T20 World Cup matches in New York, with the ICC admitting that they have not been up to standard.
The temporary Nassau County International Cricket Stadium has hosted two games so far, both of which were low-scoring due to the nature of the drop-in pitch, which has made batting difficult with its movement and bounce.
Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour described it as a “challenging wicket” but, buoyed by a win over Ireland, asserted that his batters had the skills and experience needed to handle it.
Gary Kirsten, Pakistan’s recently appointed white ball head coach, remained optimistic, expecting a “favorable result.” He confirmed that all-rounder Imad Wasim is fully fit and available to play against India.
“Two days ago is forgotten, we can’t take it back, it’s gone. We move on,” Kirsten told the media, referring to the defeat by the USA.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma said his side will take the match ball by ball and over by over. Addressing the pitch concerns, he stated that his team would stick to their plan regardless of the track’s behavior.
“We are playing with eight batters, so we look to bat aggressively and get runs quickly,” Sharma said, emphasizing that he is not relying on just one or two players.
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