Desert storm!

Red-hot unbeaten Pakistan take on resurgent Australia tonight in second semi-final as both teams look to book T20 World Cup final spot again

Is the Pakistani bubble going to burst or will they go all the way to lift the trophy?  There are many who feel that they may have peaked too soon and the law of averages might catch up with them. Pakistan are the only team to enter the knockouts of the T20 World Cup with a clean slate, winning all their five games convincingly.

Obviously, they have the momentum as they take on Australia in the second semi-final here today. Ever since they defeated India, they have gone from strength to strength. For many, it seems, the going is too good to last.

‘Great commitment’

Babar Azam & Co would obviously want to prove the skeptics wrong and their coach Mathew Hayden strongly feels that the team have shown great commitment that should hold them in good stead during the business end of the tournament. 

“From a Pakistani cricket point of view, we’re extremely excited to be coming into the knockouts with terrific momentum, fantastic energy and great optimism as well. We’ve got a squad of players here that are ready to perform and are ready to take on not only the semi-finals but should we, Inshallah, get beyond that, the finals,” the former Australian opener opined.

Australian captain Aaron Finch, however, discounted the momentum factor to influence the result in the knockouts. “I don’t think that momentum is something that really goes over—in a tournament like this. I don’t think it carries over a huge amount because you’re playing a totally different opposition, different conditions. It’s going to be a different wicket again. I don’t think you can read too much into anything like that,” said Finch.

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The toss factor

Finch also discounted the toss affecting the outcome of the game. “When it comes to finals, it doesn’t make too much of a difference, to be honest. I believe getting runs on the board, especially in a final, can be really beneficial. We’ve talked about it. We’re confident that we can win if we happen to bat first or second.” But there is no doubt the spinners are going to have a crucial role, with probably Pakistan having an edge. 

So, do Pakistan really have an edge over Australia? Finch countered that by saying: “In terms of Pakistani spinners, they’ve had some really good success obviously with Imad [Wasim] bowling in the Powerplay predominantly and then Shadab [Khan] throughout the middle-overs...they’ve been excellent. 

“We’ve been really happy with how Adam Zampa has been going. He’s bowled brilliantly throughout this tournament. He’s taken big wickets at crucial times. He gets good players out. [Glenn] Maxwell has chipped in and done really well for the overs that he’s bowled.

“Yeah, that’s [the spinners] just a part of what’s going to come down to a really close battle, no doubt,” Finch said. Finch is bang on as there can be no denying that it will be a hard-fought contest with Australia in search of an elusive T20 title and Pakistan desperate to triumph in their so-called backyard.

PCB chief: Babar doesn’t need to do anything different v Aus

Babar Azam has led Pakistan team well in the ongoing T20 World Cup and doesn’t need to do anything differently in the semi-final against Australia, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said. “So far the Pakistan team has impressed us well with their consistent performances. I don’t think Babar needs to do anything differently against Australia. The team should just remain motivated and play fearlessly,” Ramiz said.

Hayden set for ‘unusual’ reunion with friend and rival Justin Langer

Matthew Hayden 

Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, who formed one of Test cricket’s most enduring and destructive opening partnerships, will briefly become rivals on Thursday when Pakistan tackle Australia for a place in the Twenty20 World Cup final. Both now aged 50, their competitive natures have found new outlets—Hayden as batting consultant with Pakistan and Langer as Australia’s head coach. “It’s a very unusual feeling,” admitted Hayden on Wednesday. “I was a warrior for Australian cricket over two decades, so that does give me the benefit of having wonderful insights not only into these players but also into the culture of cricket in Australia.”

10
No. of matches won by teams chasing at Dubai in the ongoing T20 World Cup

16
No. of consecutive T20I matches Pakistan have won in the UAE. Their winning streak started in 2016 with a 3-0 win over West Indies

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