The Semi-Final 2 of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will feature a high-voltage battle between Group 2 table-toppers Pakistan and resurging Australia from Group 1, with both teams aiming for the prestigious ICC trophy. This game will be a clash of styles and tactics in many ways. In T20 World Cup matches, Australia and Pakistan have faced off six times, with both teams winning three each.
Strategy and Tactics
Australia have been aggressive with bat and ball from the start, and they will continue to be so against a Pakistan team that, except for Afghanistan, has never faced such an aggressive approach. Both teams have quality openers, and if they can play offensive cricket from the start, they could change the game in a matter of overs. The game could be decided by the two explosive left-arm fast bowlers on either side in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mitchell Starc.
Head to Head
Pakistan have faced Australia 23 times in the T20Is, and have dominated the Aussies. Australia have won just nine games, while the guys in green have won 12 games. Pakistan are the clear favorites in this match, and they will want to maintain their dominance.
Batters to watch out for
Babar Azam
Pakistan captain Babar Azam is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with two half-centuries and an average of 71.33. Babar and Rizwan have preferred to lay the groundwork for their aggressive middle-order. Their middle-order has been able to capitalize on the openers’ starts, with Pakistan being the tournament’s most destructive team in death overs.
David Warner
The return of David Warner bolsters Australia’s batting. In T20Is against Pakistan, Warner has been Australia’s leading run-scorer. He has 348 runs in 15 games against them, with a strike rate of 135.93. Warner also scored an unbeaten 89 in their victory over the West Indies.
Bowlers to watch out for
In-form Pakistani bowlers
Pakistan will rely heavily on Shaheen Shah Afridi and Imad Wasim to break Australia’s opening partnership and win the powerplay with the ball. The matchup between Shaheen Shah Afridi and Australia’s top order could decide the fate of this semi-final.
Stats to look out for
- All four ICC knockout games between Australia and Pakistan have been won by Australia
- In the UAE, Pakistan have won 16 consecutive T20Is. November 2015 was the last time when they lost to England in a Super Over in Sharjah.
Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Fantasy XI: Mohammad Rizwan, David Warner(c), Aaron Finch, Babar Azam(vc), Mohammad Hafeez, Mitchell Marsh, Shabad Khan, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi