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Four key India-Pakistan battles at World Cup

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Arch-rivals India and Pakistan meet in a blockbuster clash at the World Cup on Saturday.

AFP Sport takes a look at four key battles that could decide the eagerly-awaited contest at the world´s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rohit v Shaheen

India skipper Rohit Sharma has struggled against Shaheen Shah Afridi´s left-arm pace in the few outings the two teams have had in recent times.

Shaheen rattled Rohit´s off stump in their first Asia Cup match in Pallekele last month when the opener´s lack of footwork saw him bowled for 11.

The duel began at the T20 World Cup in 2021 when Shaheen trapped Rohit lbw for a duck in the first over in Dubai with his pace and swing.

But Rohit came back prepared when the rivals next met in Colombo and remained cautious against the quick despite hitting a six off his first over.

Kohli v Rauf

The stakes were high when Virat Kohli came up against Haris Rauf in a challenging chase at the T20 World Cup in Melbourne last year.

India needed 31 off the last 18 balls while chasing 160 when Kohli held his nerve to smash Rauf for two sixes to bring the house down at a packed MCG.

The first was a length ball which Kohli dispatched straight down the ground and he flicked the next to over fine-leg en route to victory.

Kohli later said the sixes were “instinctive”, but it began a great battle with the Pakistan quick which awaits another showdown in Ahmedabad.

Azam v Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah experienced the Pakistan captain´s ability at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Azam took on the Indian attack including Bumrah, a yorker king, with ease as he and Mohammad Rizwan steered the team to a 10-wicket victory in Dubai.

But two years later Bumrah and company seemed to have learnt their lessons when they bowled out Pakistan for 128 in a crushing 228-run win in an Asia Cup Super Four clash.

Bumrah beat the bat of Azam on a few occasions in Colombo before Hardik Pandya got the prized wicket.

Iftikhar v Kuldeep

Iftikhar Ahmed is a middle-order batsman who can play anchor or go after the bowling with equal ease but at the Asia Cup last month, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav cut short the batsman´s knock, taking a smart catch off his own bowling.

Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist spinner, claimed 5-25 in that game as India claimed a 228-run win.

Iftikhar´s task on Saturday will be to tackle the spinners in the middle overs and also accelerate the scoring.

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“He must demonstrate that he is Viv Richards.” Regarding Babar Azam, Ramiz Raja

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High expectations were set for star batsman Babar Azam by former Pakistan Test cricketer and PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, who said he should demonstrate his potential like Sir Vivian Richards.

Babar is now going through a difficult time. The ace batsman’s string of poor showings in the longest format also led to his exclusion from the final two Test matches of the just finished three-match series against England.

Although Babar has amassed 3,997 runs at a respectable average of 43.92 in 55 Test matches, he hasn’t reached a half-century in the format since 2022.

Babar Azam’s numbers in white-ball cricket were praised by Ramiz Raja, who pointed out that he needs to work harder in the longest format given his red-ball statistics.

Citing the legend’s propensity to perform well in pivotal games, he further counseled the star batter to demonstrate he is Sir Vivian Richards through his disposition.

“I think Babar needs to do much more in Test cricket. His average in both T20I and ODI is over fifty, and he excels at the white-ball format.On his YouTube channel, Raja stated, “Babar Azam has a lot of potential.”

He must now demonstrate to the world that he is Vivian Richards by his attitude. “The more innings Richards used to play, the bigger the contest,” he continued.

For those who are unaware, Babar Azam is presently touring Australia for the three-match ODI and T20I series.

With 271 runs needed to reach 6000, the star batter is about to reach a significant ODI milestone.

Additionally, he has a good chance of breaking the record held by South African great Hashim Amla for the fastest journey to 6000 ODI runs.

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Regarding Gary Kirsten’s resignation as head coach of Pakistan, Ramiz Raja said, “It’s not great news.”

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The sudden resignation of Gary Kirsten as head coach of the white-ball cricket team has prompted a warning from Ramiz Raja, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

In April 2024, Kirsten was appointed by the cricket board for a two-year term. He did, however, leave the position on October 28 after only six months.

During Pakistan’s four-match T20I series against England in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the South African took the lead.

Pakistan lost the series against England and were eliminated from the T20 World Cup group stage while he was the white-ball head coach.

Kirsten’s resignation, according to the sources, followed his arguments with the cricket board on central contracts and white-ball teams for the forthcoming tour of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Notably, in the past, the selection committee included voting members who were head coaches and captains of the various versions.

Nevertheless, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured the selection committee after Pakistan’s crushing loss to England in the first Test match, eliminating the coach and captain from the process. This did not sit well with Gary Kirsten.

In a statement to the media, Ramiz Raja predicted that the cricket board will have trouble in the future recruiting elite international coaches.

“Hiring international talent won’t be an easy, straightforward task for Pakistan, especially when you consider the kind of backlash that Gary Kirsten’s resignation is likely to cause,” Ramiz stated.

It is imperative that you provide clarity regarding the role to the person you have engaged and involved. Gary Kirsten may or may not have received that clarity.

Pakistan needed an experienced hand, therefore her departure is not good news. Just before a tour, it doesn’t appear very well from a distance.

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Shahid Afridi endorses Mohammad Rizwan’s selection as captain for white-ball formats.

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Shahid Afridi, the former captain and all-rounder of Pakistan, endorsed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to designate Mohammad Rizwan as the white-ball captain of the national men’s side.

On Sunday, Rizwan succeeded Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain after Babar resigned from the position earlier this month to concentrate more on his playing responsibilities.

Rizwan’s inaugural assignment as captain will be the white-ball series in Australia, commencing on 4 November.

Rizwan, who commenced his white-ball cricket career in 2015, has participated in 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is, amassing 5,401 runs, including four hundreds, and has had 143 dismissals as a wicketkeeper.

Rizwan will assume the role of Pakistan’s 31st captain as he leads the side in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November. He will be the 12th individual to captain Pakistan in the T20I format during the first match in Brisbane on 14 November.

Concurrently, the esteemed all-rounder Shahid Afridi expressed his enthusiasm for the PCB’s decision to appoint wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan as the team’s captain. He conveyed assurance in Rizwan’s capacity to elevate the white-ball team to unprecedented levels.

Afridi stated on X, formerly Twitter, “If you seek a captain who exemplifies strategy, courage, optimism, vitality, and fervor, Rizwan is your ideal choice.”

“I am delighted that @TheRealPCB has assigned him this significant responsibility.” I am fully confident that he would advance this white-ball team and fulfill the elevated expectations of people who desire the prosperity and success of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

The 32-year-old wicketkeeper will commence his captaincy during the matches against Australia and the ODIs against Zimbabwe, but will be rested for the T20Is against Zimbabwe.

In his absence, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha will command Pakistan in the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

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