Pakistan and Australia will face each other in the second semi-final of the 2021 ICC T20 world cup today at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium . Pakistan seems primed to clinch its second T20 World Cup title but it will first have to mount the hurdle posed by Australia a team peaking at the right time, in the semi finals. Pakistan has now become the team to beat. It is the only team to be undefeated so far in the UAE.
Since the historic win over India last month, Pakistan has revealed hardly a few chinks in its armour.
The formidable top-order, led by the tournament’s leading run-scorer skipper Babar Azam (264), who has four half-centuries against his name, is expected to deliver once again. Australia’s bowling attack, though, will also be ready and waiting to capitalize on any slip up.
In case the opening duo of Azam and Mohammad Rizwan fail, Pakistan has an array of match-winners in the middle order. However, the team would be expecting more from Fakhar Zaman, the only one to have not made a significant contribution with the bat yet.
Pakistan’s bowling attack has been as impressive, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf troubling the batters consistently. Hasan Ali has had an ordinary tournament. skipper Azam has backed the speedster to come good, Australia is likely to target him. Spinners Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez and Shadab Khan will be skipper Azam’s main weapons against Australia, a side that may struggle against spin.
Australia, the 2010 runner-up, is beginning to peak at the right time in its bid to win its only missing title. Apart from the eight-wicket mauling by England, Aaron Finch and Co. have registered dominant wins which helped them book a semifinal slot ahead of South Africa. Their formidable pace attack has been incisive, and leg-spinner Adam Zampa, has struck regularly in the middle overs.
The biggest confidence booster for Australia would be David Warner’s return to form. The opener entered the tournament on the back of a woeful run in T20s but has brushed that aside with two half-centuries, including an 89 not out in the previous game.
(Agencies)
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