Pakistan face arch-rivals India in ICC T20 World Cup opener

By our correspondent

MELBOURNE: Pakistan and India face each other in what could be an inspiring game of the ICC T20 World Cup at a 100,000 capacity stadium Melbourne here on Sunday.

A good news is that rain chances in Melbourne are now little and hopefully both sides will get ample overs to show their worth. Both teams have recently faced each other in the UAE during Asia Cup and both won one show each and that too in the last over each time. It is again expected if weather allowed a full action then the clash could be a mouth-watering. India are having a strong batting line-up while Pakistan will boast for a super pace attack and their mediocre batting will have to get a chance to punish India’s bowling in the absence of their star pacer. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, like always, will have to put in their best to share a solid but quick opening stand which is the only way to put pressure on the Indian bowling attack.

Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan also have the ability to bat destructively at times.

Shaheen Afridi, following  a marathon rehab, has now recovered well and is ready for leading the bowling attack. He has shown a glimpse of his stunning bowling, against Afghanistan in the warm-up game the other day. Haris Rauf is in top form to fully assist him and there is a pack of youthful pacers who have all the abilities to destroy Indian batting.

Both sides today underwent training and the stage is ready at the dazzling MCG, which is regarded as one of the iconic venues of the world.