<p>Pakistan have a complex road ahead in the ODI World Cup 2023 edition. With one game to go, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green need a win&nbsp;versus England in their remaining tie and also hope for New Zealand and Afghanistan's exit to grab the leftover fourth semi-final spot. Ahead of their next outing, on Saturday (Nov 11), former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the Men in Green to reach the top four and play India in a high-voltage semi-final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I want Pakistan to reach the semi-finals and play India. It can't be a bigger semi-final than that," Ganguly told Sports Tak.</p>

<p>The last time when India hosted the 50-over World Cup, in 2011, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, they faced arch-rivals Pakistan in the second semi-final and went past them by 29 runs in Mohali. As India are set to finish first and Pakistan can only take the fourth remaining slot, they can meet in the second semi-final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.</p>

<p>It is to be noted that Pakistan's semi-final will only take place in Kolkata&nbsp;due to security concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc-2023-ben-stokes-wants-to-make-sure-england-qualify-for-2025-champions-trophy-jos-buttler-656828">CWC 2023: Ben Stokes wants to make sure England qualify for 2025 Champions Trophy - Jos Buttler</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Ganguly spoke at length about Rohit Sharma-led Team India's performance, who are on an eight-match winning streak in the ten-team tournament at home. While he accepted that the hosts have played way better than every opposition, he was quick to dismiss the reporter's claim that it will be a shock if India do not go on to lift the cup. He, however, mentioned that he does not feel the team's level will&nbsp;drop drastically in the knockouts.</p>

<p>"No, it won't be a shock (if this Indian team does not win&nbsp;the World Cup). It doesn't happen in sports like that. The entire nation is happy with the way India is playing. The way they have played in the 8 games, it appears that there is a big gap from the rest of the teams. I hope they keep playing like this. I don't think the level will drop so drastically (in semi-finals) that they will suddenly start playing poor cricket. Fingers crossed, they are looking very good," the former Indian skipper added.</p>


Pakistan have a complex road ahead in the ODI World Cup 2023 edition. With one game to go, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green need a win versus England in their remaining tie and also hope for New Zealand and Afghanistan's exit to grab the leftover fourth semi-final spot.

Pakistan have a complex road ahead in the ODI World Cup 2023 edition. With one game to go, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green need a win versus England in their remaining tie and also hope for New Zealand and Afghanistan's exit to grab the leftover fourth semi-final spot. Ahead of their next outing, on Saturday (Nov 11), former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the Men in Green to reach the top four and play India in a high-voltage semi-final. "I want Pakistan to reach the semi-finals and play India. It can't be a bigger semi-final than that," Ganguly told Sports Tak. The last time when India hosted the 50-over World Cup, in 2011, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, they faced arch-rivals Pakistan in the second semi-final and went past them by 29 runs in Mohali. As India are set to finish first and Pakistan can only take the fourth remaining slot, they can meet in the second semi-final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. It is to be noted that Pakistan's semi-final will only take place in Kolkata due to security concerns. Also read: CWC 2023: Ben Stokes wants to make sure England qualify for 2025 Champions Trophy - Jos Buttler Meanwhile, Ganguly spoke at length about Rohit Sharma-led Team India's performance, who are on an eight-match winning streak in the ten-team tournament at home. While he accepted that the hosts have played way better than every opposition, he was quick to dismiss the reporter's claim that it will be a shock if India do not go on to lift the cup. He, however, mentioned that he does not feel the team's level will drop drastically in the knockouts. "No, it won't be a shock (if this Indian team does not win the World Cup). It doesn't happen in sports like that. The entire nation is happy with the way India is playing. The way they have played in the 8 games, it appears that there is a big gap from the rest of the teams. I hope they keep playing like this. I don't think the level will drop so drastically (in semi-finals) that they will suddenly start playing poor cricket. Fingers crossed, they are looking very good," the former Indian skipper added.

Want Pakistan to reach ODI World Cup semi-finals and play India, says former captain Sourav Ganguly

<p><strong>IND vs PAK live streaming app for free:</strong> <strong> </strong>The two cricket arch-rivals, India and Pakistan will clash in the match 12 of the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup on Saturday (Oct 14). The match is slated to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.</p>

<p>India begins its campaign on a high note as they etched a victory against Australia in their first match. The second outing against Afghanistan was smooth and the twin victories put Men in Blue in confident state, as they make their way to Ahmedabad for Saturday’s match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan, on the other hand, also started their campaign with two back to back wins. The second one against Sri Lanka saw them chase down a record World Cup total of 345 runs. Rizwan believes that they have good momentum ahead of the India vs Pakistan match.</p>

<p>The much-anticipated match between the two will be of high intensity.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan probable playing XI</strong></h2>

<p><strong>India (IND)</strong>: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav</p>

<p><strong>Pakistan (PAK): </strong>Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK free live-streaming app: App to watch free live streaming of India vs Pakistan&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The India vs Pakistan can be live-streamed for free on Disney+ Hotstar app. Disney Star is the official broadcaster of World Cup 2023 both on TV and digital, and announced that they will stream the marquee tournament for free on mobile devices via their Disney+ Hotstar app.</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan live-streaming details</strong></h2>

<p>Here are all the live-streaming details of Saturday’s match here:</p>

<p><strong>Check how to watch IND vs PAK live-streaming for free in your country</strong></p>

<p>India- Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar</p>

<p>Pakistan- PTV Sports&nbsp;</p>

<p>Australia- 9Now and Fox Sports</p>

<p>US and Canada- ESPN+</p>

<p>UK- Sky Sports and My5</p>

<p>New Zealand- Sky Sport and Sky Go</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: When is India vs Pakistan match to be played?- Date</strong></h2>

<p>The India vs Pakistan match will be played on Saturday, October 13.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: At what time India vs Pakistan match will be played?- Time&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The India vs Pakistan match will be played at 2:00 pm IST.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: Where will India vs Pakistan match be played?- Venue</strong></h2>

<p>The India vs Pakistan match will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: Where to watch the live-telecast of World Cup 2023 India vs Pakistan match?</strong></h2>

<p>The live-telecast of the India vs Pakistan match can be watched on all Star Sports Network channels.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: How to watch India vs Pakistan match free live-stream?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The India vs Pakistan match live-streaming can be watched on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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IND vs PAK live streaming app for free: The two cricket arch-rivals, India and Pakistan will clash in the match 12 of the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup on Saturday (Oct 14).

IND vs PAK live streaming app for free: The two cricket arch-rivals, India and Pakistan will clash in the match 12 of the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup on Saturday (Oct 14). The match is slated to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. India begins its campaign on a high note as they etched a victory against Australia in their first match. The second outing against Afghanistan was smooth and the twin victories put Men in Blue in confident state, as they make their way to Ahmedabad for Saturday’s match. Pakistan, on the other hand, also started their campaign with two back to back wins. The second one against Sri Lanka saw them chase down a record World Cup total of 345 runs. Rizwan believes that they have good momentum ahead of the India vs Pakistan match. The much-anticipated match between the two will be of high intensity. IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan probable playing XI India (IND): Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav Pakistan (PAK): Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim. IND vs PAK free live-streaming app: App to watch free live streaming of India vs Pakistan The India vs Pakistan can be live-streamed for free on Disney+ Hotstar app. Disney Star is the official broadcaster of World Cup 2023 both on TV and digital, and announced that they will stream the marquee tournament for free on mobile devices via their Disney+ Hotstar app. IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan live-streaming details Here are all the live-streaming details of Saturday’s match here: Check how to watch IND vs PAK live-streaming for free in your country India- Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar Pakistan- PTV Sports Australia- 9Now and Fox Sports US and Canada- ESPN+ UK- Sky Sports and My5 New Zealand- Sky Sport and Sky Go IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: When is India vs Pakistan match to be played?- Date The India vs Pakistan match will be played on Saturday, October 13. IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: At what time India vs Pakistan match will be played?- Time The India vs Pakistan match will be played at 2:00 pm IST. IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: Where will India vs Pakistan match be played?- Venue The India vs Pakistan match will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: Where to watch the live-telecast of World Cup 2023 India vs Pakistan match? The live-telecast of the India vs Pakistan match can be watched on all Star Sports Network channels. IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: How to watch India vs Pakistan match free live-stream? The India vs Pakistan match live-streaming can be watched on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IND vs PAK free live streaming app: How to watch India vs Pakistan live streaming for free on mobile app

<p><strong>IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: </strong>The first India vs Pakistan clash at the 2023 ICC World Cup is all set to take place on Saturday (Oct 14). The match is slated to be played at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ambedabad, Gujarat. Both teams are unbeaten so far in the tournament. While India's wins have come against Australia and Afghanistan, Pakistan has managed to beat Netherlands and Sri Lanka.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This might be the first proper India vs Pakistan clash of the years, after the Asia Cup matches between the two were hindered by rains. The excitement among the fans is at an all-time high and they are waiting with bated breath to witness two giants of the sport setting the World Cup ablaze.</p>

<p>The focus will be on the overhead conditions as the fans will not want the rain to again play spoilsport in a match of such enormous magnitude.</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK World Cup 2023: Weather report from Ahmedabad</strong></h2>

<p>Accuweather suggests a promising weather forecast for Saturday in Ahmedabad, with very little to no chance of rain. However, the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad suggests cloudy weather with light showers during the match hours. The conditions will remain dry, with temperatures ranging from 30-35 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the humidity levels in Ahmedabad are expected to be at 50 per cent, while daytime temperatures will touch a scorching high of 35 degrees Celsius. Owing to this hot and sunny weather, attendees are advised to lather up sunscreen before arriving at the venue.</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK World Cup 2023: Pitch report</strong></h2>

<p>As for the weather’s impact on the game play, if conditions are dry, the skies remain clear and temperatures high, the pitch will be drier, which is great news for the batsmen, but not so much for the bowlers, as the ball wouldn’t swing much. This could then result in a high-scoring game between the two talented cricketing sides.</p>

<p>Ahmedabad has hosted only one game thus far in the ODI World Cup 2023, the curtain-raiser between England and New Zealand. The Kiwis chased down the 283-run target in the 37th over with nine wickets in hand. While the pitch seemed a little bit sticky upfront, the ball skidded on under the lights.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IND vs PAK World Cup 2023: Match details</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Match:</strong> India vs Pakistan, ODI World Cup 2023, Match 12</p>

<p><strong>Venue: </strong>Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad</p>

<p><strong>Date &amp; Time</strong>: Saturday, October 13, 2:00 pm IST&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Live Streaming Details:</strong> Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar app and website</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: The first India vs Pakistan clash at the 2023 ICC World Cup is all set to take place on Saturday (Oct 14). The match is slated to be played at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ambedabad, Gujarat.

IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: The first India vs Pakistan clash at the 2023 ICC World Cup is all set to take place on Saturday (Oct 14). The match is slated to be played at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ambedabad, Gujarat. Both teams are unbeaten so far in the tournament. While India's wins have come against Australia and Afghanistan, Pakistan has managed to beat Netherlands and Sri Lanka. This might be the first proper India vs Pakistan clash of the years, after the Asia Cup matches between the two were hindered by rains. The excitement among the fans is at an all-time high and they are waiting with bated breath to witness two giants of the sport setting the World Cup ablaze. The focus will be on the overhead conditions as the fans will not want the rain to again play spoilsport in a match of such enormous magnitude. IND vs PAK World Cup 2023: Weather report from Ahmedabad Accuweather suggests a promising weather forecast for Saturday in Ahmedabad, with very little to no chance of rain. However, the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad suggests cloudy weather with light showers during the match hours. The conditions will remain dry, with temperatures ranging from 30-35 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the humidity levels in Ahmedabad are expected to be at 50 per cent, while daytime temperatures will touch a scorching high of 35 degrees Celsius. Owing to this hot and sunny weather, attendees are advised to lather up sunscreen before arriving at the venue. IND vs PAK World Cup 2023: Pitch report As for the weather’s impact on the game play, if conditions are dry, the skies remain clear and temperatures high, the pitch will be drier, which is great news for the batsmen, but not so much for the bowlers, as the ball wouldn’t swing much. This could then result in a high-scoring game between the two talented cricketing sides. Ahmedabad has hosted only one game thus far in the ODI World Cup 2023, the curtain-raiser between England and New Zealand. The Kiwis chased down the 283-run target in the 37th over with nine wickets in hand. While the pitch seemed a little bit sticky upfront, the ball skidded on under the lights. IND vs PAK World Cup 2023: Match details Match: India vs Pakistan, ODI World Cup 2023, Match 12 Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Date & Time: Saturday, October 13, 2:00 pm IST Live Streaming Details: Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar app and website (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023: Weather report from Ahmedabad- Will rain play spoilsport in India-Pakistan match?

<p>India will face Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 14) in match 12 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition. Both teams are coming into this game on the back of two successive wins each and, thus, the clash is expected to go down to the wire at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad.&nbsp;Before the clash, many former cricketers and experts of the game shared their predictions and picked which team would start as favourites.</p>

<p>Former Pakistan captain-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja feels Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will start as favourites.&nbsp;Ramiz told Jio Cinema, "This game, it's played off the field as much as it is on the field. It's a huge game. India will start as favourites, three is no doubt about it. They have all their bases covered when it comes to batting, bowling and in terms of fitness."</p>

<p>"Pakistan have to raise their level massively if they are to do well. But the win against Sri Lanka, the record chase would have made a huge difference to Pakistan in their dressing room, they have to think of winning and go on with an uncluttered mind," he further opined.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc-23-huge-difference-between-bumrah-and-afridi-feels-gambhir-before-india-vs-pakistan-showdown-646284">CWC '23: Huge difference between Bumrah and Afridi, feels Gambhir before India vs Pakistan showdown</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>'If Pakistan don't....'</strong></h2>

<p>Ramiz went on to say, "Pakistan need wickets at the start. But their bowling has come under pressure, and wickets are not coming. Naseem Shah is not available, Pakistan is missing him a lot. Shaheen Shah Afridi has a swelling in one of his fingers and because of that, he has not been at his best. Hasan Ali's pace has dripped. But somehow, Pakistan have to lift their bowling performance. If they don't do it and the bowling is flat, India will bat Pakistan out of the contest. Pakistan have to take their catches well. They should not allow big partnerships.</p>

<p>The former Pakistan captain added, "Pakistan need a proper spinner. Can they take the chance by playing Usama Mir? The two spinners that are playing now are all-rounders. They have not performed up to the mark now. India have a very strong batting line-up. They have to think in terms of selection also. If they go in with an uncluttered mind, if they pick up a a couple of wickets with the new ball, if they can get the tactics right, keep the pressure on India batters in the middle overs, then they have an outside chance."</p>

<p>Rohit-led India won their tournament opener versus Australia by six wickets in pursuit of 200 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai before beating Afghanistan by eight wickets in New Delhi, India. Meanwhile, Babar Azam-led Men in Green beat the Netherlands by 81 runs and went past Sri Lanka by six wickets, in pursuit of 345, in their first two encounters in Hyderabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Overall, India lead Pakistan 7-0 in ODI World Cup history. It will be interesting to see if India maintain their lead or if Babar &amp; Co. get off the mark versus the arch-rivals. Both sides locked horns twice in the Asia Cup 2023 edition, with the Men in Blue winning one and the other game being washed out.</p>

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India will face Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 14) in match 12 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition. Both teams are coming into this game on the back of two successive wins each and, thus, the clash is expected to go down to the wire at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad.

India will face Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 14) in match 12 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition. Both teams are coming into this game on the back of two successive wins each and, thus, the clash is expected to go down to the wire at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. Before the clash, many former cricketers and experts of the game shared their predictions and picked which team would start as favourites. Former Pakistan captain-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja feels Rohit Sharma & Co. will start as favourites. Ramiz told Jio Cinema, "This game, it's played off the field as much as it is on the field. It's a huge game. India will start as favourites, three is no doubt about it. They have all their bases covered when it comes to batting, bowling and in terms of fitness." "Pakistan have to raise their level massively if they are to do well. But the win against Sri Lanka, the record chase would have made a huge difference to Pakistan in their dressing room, they have to think of winning and go on with an uncluttered mind," he further opined. Also read: CWC '23: Huge difference between Bumrah and Afridi, feels Gambhir before India vs Pakistan showdown 'If Pakistan don't....' Ramiz went on to say, "Pakistan need wickets at the start. But their bowling has come under pressure, and wickets are not coming. Naseem Shah is not available, Pakistan is missing him a lot. Shaheen Shah Afridi has a swelling in one of his fingers and because of that, he has not been at his best. Hasan Ali's pace has dripped. But somehow, Pakistan have to lift their bowling performance. If they don't do it and the bowling is flat, India will bat Pakistan out of the contest. Pakistan have to take their catches well. They should not allow big partnerships. The former Pakistan captain added, "Pakistan need a proper spinner. Can they take the chance by playing Usama Mir? The two spinners that are playing now are all-rounders. They have not performed up to the mark now. India have a very strong batting line-up. They have to think in terms of selection also. If they go in with an uncluttered mind, if they pick up a a couple of wickets with the new ball, if they can get the tactics right, keep the pressure on India batters in the middle overs, then they have an outside chance." Rohit-led India won their tournament opener versus Australia by six wickets in pursuit of 200 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai before beating Afghanistan by eight wickets in New Delhi, India. Meanwhile, Babar Azam-led Men in Green beat the Netherlands by 81 runs and went past Sri Lanka by six wickets, in pursuit of 345, in their first two encounters in Hyderabad. Overall, India lead Pakistan 7-0 in ODI World Cup history. It will be interesting to see if India maintain their lead or if Babar & Co. get off the mark versus the arch-rivals. Both sides locked horns twice in the Asia Cup 2023 edition, with the Men in Blue winning one and the other game being washed out. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India vs Pakistan, CWC '23: 'There is no doubt about it' - Ramiz Raja on which team starts as FAVOURITES

<p>Shubman Gill missed India's opening two games in CWC 2023 edition due to dengue. He was admitted in a Chennai hospital, after India's opening game in the city where they beat Australia, and got discharged later. After missing India's Afghanistan face-off in Delhi, Gill flew to Ahmedabad and even trained for some time on Thursday (Oct 12). Thus, ardent Indian cricket fans are eager to know if he will feature in India's big-ticket clash versus Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 14) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>MSK Prasad, India's former keeper-batter and BCCI chief selector, is confident that Gill will play the match versus Pakistan in Ahmedabad, which is the youngster's happy hunting ground.&nbsp;Talking to Hindustan Times, Prasad said that Gill would definitely, pointing out that practising in the nets has clearly displayed that the 24-year-old has recovered well and before one expected.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'He just had a fever. He has recovered'</strong></h2>

<p>Prasad said,&nbsp;<iframe allow="attribution-reporting" aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="6" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1007232/IT_Teads_1x1_0" role="region" scrolling="no" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>"I think we can put an end to all kinds of speculations. Shubman Gill will definitely play this game (vs Pakistan). He's too good a player to miss out. He had just a fever. He has recovered. It was not threatening at all that we would even think about replacements. It's all rumours that are coming out (about the seriousness of the illness) in whatever form that you are hearing."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/odi-world-cup-2023-theyre-hoping-rather-than-says-matthew-hayden-after-australias-loss-vs-south-africa-646157">ODI World Cup 2023: 'They're hoping rather than..,' says Matthew Hayden after Australia's loss vs South Africa</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "What we heard was that as a matter of precaution, he couldn't play the second game otherwise he was fine. He stayed back for one more day in Chennai as a precaution. He recovered well, and was discharged. See if someone is playing for 1 hour, that means he has recovered. This is an all-important game against Pakistan. If he is fit, which I'm sure he is, then he should be in India's playing XI."</p>

<p>Gill has been in exceptional touch in 2023. Across formats, he has scored as many as seven centuries with five of them coming in the 50-over format. He scored a sublime 121 versus Bangladesh during India's victorious run in the Asia Cup&nbsp;and ended as the leading run-getter (302 runs) as well. Moreover, he followed it up with&nbsp;the Player-of-the-Series award (including a fine 104) in India's 2-1 home ODI series win over Australia in late September.&nbsp;</p>

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Shubman Gill missed India's opening two games in CWC 2023 edition due to dengue. He was admitted in a Chennai hospital, after India's opening game in the city where they beat Australia, and got discharged later.

Shubman Gill missed India's opening two games in CWC 2023 edition due to dengue. He was admitted in a Chennai hospital, after India's opening game in the city where they beat Australia, and got discharged later. After missing India's Afghanistan face-off in Delhi, Gill flew to Ahmedabad and even trained for some time on Thursday (Oct 12). Thus, ardent Indian cricket fans are eager to know if he will feature in India's big-ticket clash versus Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 14) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. MSK Prasad, India's former keeper-batter and BCCI chief selector, is confident that Gill will play the match versus Pakistan in Ahmedabad, which is the youngster's happy hunting ground. Talking to Hindustan Times, Prasad said that Gill would definitely, pointing out that practising in the nets has clearly displayed that the 24-year-old has recovered well and before one expected. 'He just had a fever. He has recovered' Prasad said, "I think we can put an end to all kinds of speculations. Shubman Gill will definitely play this game (vs Pakistan). He's too good a player to miss out. He had just a fever. He has recovered. It was not threatening at all that we would even think about replacements. It's all rumours that are coming out (about the seriousness of the illness) in whatever form that you are hearing." Also read: ODI World Cup 2023: 'They're hoping rather than..,' says Matthew Hayden after Australia's loss vs South Africa He added, "What we heard was that as a matter of precaution, he couldn't play the second game otherwise he was fine. He stayed back for one more day in Chennai as a precaution. He recovered well, and was discharged. See if someone is playing for 1 hour, that means he has recovered. This is an all-important game against Pakistan. If he is fit, which I'm sure he is, then he should be in India's playing XI." Gill has been in exceptional touch in 2023. Across formats, he has scored as many as seven centuries with five of them coming in the 50-over format. He scored a sublime 121 versus Bangladesh during India's victorious run in the Asia Cup and ended as the leading run-getter (302 runs) as well. Moreover, he followed it up with the Player-of-the-Series award (including a fine 104) in India's 2-1 home ODI series win over Australia in late September. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ODI World Cup: 'Gill will definitely play' - Prasad confident of opener's return for Pakistan clash

<p>In match 9 of the ODI World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma-led India demolished Afghanistan by eight wickets in pursuit of 273 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on Wednesday (Oct 11). Being asked to bowl first, Afghanistan did well to post 272 for 8, riding on captain&nbsp;Hashmatullah Shahidi (80) and&nbsp;Azmatullah Omarzai (62) but fell flat with the ball as&nbsp;skipper Rohit (131) and Virat Kohli (55 not out) propelled India to a stunning eight-wicket win in 35 overs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thus, with two wins in a row, India will now shift their focus on playing arch-rivals Pakistan in match 12 of the ongoing marquee event. After the win against Afghanistan, Rohit opened up on facing Pakistan and said that it is important for his side to not worry about the 'external factors'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the post-match presentation, Rohit said, "(It) was a good win for us, very important to get that momentum at the start of the tournament."</p>

<p>On the Pakistan face-off, he stated, "For us, it is crucial that we don't worry about external factors and just look at things we can control. We just need to show up and do well."</p>

<p>"Things like what the pitch is like, what combo we can play is what we can control. What happens outside we won't be worried about it. It is just about focusing on what we can do as players and how we can perform," the India captain further opined.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/odi-world-cup-2023-ind-vs-afg-from-naveen-kohli-hug-to-iyers-101-metre-six-top-moments-from-the-game-645698">ODI World Cup 2023, IND vs AFG: From Naveen-Kohli hug to Iyer's 101-metre six - Top moments from the game</a></strong></p>

<p>Rohit spoke at length on Team India and said, "We have got guys who can play fearless cricket with bat and guys who can absorb like the last game. It is about absorbing pressure and making the right decision on the field. There will be a spell from the opposition where you will have to absorb pressure. Leading up to the tournament, we had played such games. "We have got players with different skill sets in our team. They bring different attributes of the game to the team and it puts you in good positions as a team when you have that," he added.</p>

<p>Both India and Pakistan are coming into the marquee face-off after starting their campaigns with two back-to-back wins. Will India maintain their unbeaten ODI World Cup streak over the Babar Azam-led Men in Green? Only time will tell...</p>

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In match 9 of the ODI World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma-led India demolished Afghanistan by eight wickets in pursuit of 273 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on Wednesday (Oct 11).

In match 9 of the ODI World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma-led India demolished Afghanistan by eight wickets in pursuit of 273 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on Wednesday (Oct 11). Being asked to bowl first, Afghanistan did well to post 272 for 8, riding on captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (80) and Azmatullah Omarzai (62) but fell flat with the ball as skipper Rohit (131) and Virat Kohli (55 not out) propelled India to a stunning eight-wicket win in 35 overs. Thus, with two wins in a row, India will now shift their focus on playing arch-rivals Pakistan in match 12 of the ongoing marquee event. After the win against Afghanistan, Rohit opened up on facing Pakistan and said that it is important for his side to not worry about the 'external factors'. At the post-match presentation, Rohit said, "(It) was a good win for us, very important to get that momentum at the start of the tournament." On the Pakistan face-off, he stated, "For us, it is crucial that we don't worry about external factors and just look at things we can control. We just need to show up and do well." "Things like what the pitch is like, what combo we can play is what we can control. What happens outside we won't be worried about it. It is just about focusing on what we can do as players and how we can perform," the India captain further opined. Also read: ODI World Cup 2023, IND vs AFG: From Naveen-Kohli hug to Iyer's 101-metre six - Top moments from the game Rohit spoke at length on Team India and said, "We have got guys who can play fearless cricket with bat and guys who can absorb like the last game. It is about absorbing pressure and making the right decision on the field. There will be a spell from the opposition where you will have to absorb pressure. Leading up to the tournament, we had played such games. "We have got players with different skill sets in our team. They bring different attributes of the game to the team and it puts you in good positions as a team when you have that," he added. Both India and Pakistan are coming into the marquee face-off after starting their campaigns with two back-to-back wins. Will India maintain their unbeaten ODI World Cup streak over the Babar Azam-led Men in Green? Only time will tell... WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Crucial that we don't worry...': Rohit Sharma on India's mouth-watering clash vs Pakistan in CWC '23

<p>Things aren't bright for Team India star opener Shubman Gill. Having missed India's CWC 2023 opener versus Australia, due to dengue, the batter remained in Chennai as Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. reached New Delhi on Monday (Oct&nbsp;9) for their upcoming clash versus Afghanistan on Wednesday (Oct 11).</p>

<p>It is to be noted that Gill was hospitalised in Chennai after his platelet count dropped. The young batter was&nbsp;discharged&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;morning (Oct&nbsp;10),&nbsp;as per the news agency&nbsp;PTI.</p>

<p>On Monday, the&nbsp;Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Gill is closely being monitored by the&nbsp;medical team but remains&nbsp;out of the Afghanistan clash.</p>

<p>"Team India batter Shubman Gill will not be travelling with the team to Delhi on 9th October 2023. The opening batter who missed the team’s first fixture in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia in Chennai is set to miss the team’s next fixture against Afghanistan in Delhi on the 11th of October."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-2023-match-8-pakistan-take-on-sri-lanka-in-hyderabad-preview-and-result-prediction-644744">World Cup 2023, Match 8: Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in Hyderabad - Preview and result prediction</a></strong></p>

<p>"He will stay back in Chennai and will be under the supervision of the medical team," read the statement from BCCI.</p>

<p>Gill's absence is a huge blow for Team India. The 24-year-old has been in exceptional form for the last year, especially in ODIs. In 2023, he has been on a run-scoring spree and has five centuries in the ODI format. Gill was in fine form in the Asia Cup, with a sublime 121&nbsp;versus Bangladesh, and ended with the Player-of-the-Series award in India's 2-1 win over Australia in three home ODIs before the World Cup.</p>

<p>In his absence, India were tottering at 2 for 3 in pursuit of 200 versus the Aussies in match 5 of CWC 2023 on Sunday (Oct&nbsp;8). Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97 not out) ensured India went past the finish line with six wickets&nbsp;and 52 balls to spare in Chennai.</p>

<p>Given Gill's condition, he is ruled out of the upcoming India-Pakistan clash&nbsp;on October 14&nbsp;in Ahmedabad. An official announcement can be expected in the coming days.</p>

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Things aren't bright for Team India star opener Shubman Gill. Having missed India's CWC 2023 opener versus Australia, due to dengue, the batter remained in Chennai as Rohit Sharma & Co.

Things aren't bright for Team India star opener Shubman Gill. Having missed India's CWC 2023 opener versus Australia, due to dengue, the batter remained in Chennai as Rohit Sharma & Co. reached New Delhi on Monday (Oct 9) for their upcoming clash versus Afghanistan on Wednesday (Oct 11). It is to be noted that Gill was hospitalised in Chennai after his platelet count dropped. The young batter was discharged on Tuesday morning (Oct 10), as per the news agency PTI. On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Gill is closely being monitored by the medical team but remains out of the Afghanistan clash. "Team India batter Shubman Gill will not be travelling with the team to Delhi on 9th October 2023. The opening batter who missed the team’s first fixture in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia in Chennai is set to miss the team’s next fixture against Afghanistan in Delhi on the 11th of October." Also read: World Cup 2023, Match 8: Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in Hyderabad - Preview and result prediction "He will stay back in Chennai and will be under the supervision of the medical team," read the statement from BCCI. Gill's absence is a huge blow for Team India. The 24-year-old has been in exceptional form for the last year, especially in ODIs. In 2023, he has been on a run-scoring spree and has five centuries in the ODI format. Gill was in fine form in the Asia Cup, with a sublime 121 versus Bangladesh, and ended with the Player-of-the-Series award in India's 2-1 win over Australia in three home ODIs before the World Cup. In his absence, India were tottering at 2 for 3 in pursuit of 200 versus the Aussies in match 5 of CWC 2023 on Sunday (Oct 8). Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97 not out) ensured India went past the finish line with six wickets and 52 balls to spare in Chennai. Given Gill's condition, he is ruled out of the upcoming India-Pakistan clash on October 14 in Ahmedabad. An official announcement can be expected in the coming days. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CWC 2023: India batter Shubman Gill discharged from Chennai hospital, unlikely to play vs Pakistan - Report

<p>Preparations are in full swing as India are set to host Pakistan in a marquee ODI World Cup 2023 clash on Saturday (Oct 14) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the big-ticket clash, as many as over 11,000 personnel of various agencies, including Gujarat Police, NSG, RAF, and home guards among others are set to&nbsp;be deployed in Ahmedabad and at the&nbsp;stadium for the smooth conduct of the match, a senior officer said told.</p>

<p>The official confirmed that the high-level security arrangements have been put in place following threats.&nbsp;A detailed meeting has been held between the&nbsp;Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel,&nbsp;Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, state DGP Vikas Sahay, GS Malik and other senior police officers in Gandhinagar to analyse and review the police's action plan.</p>

<p>Malik said while addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, "Along with more than 7,000 police personnel, we will deploy nearly 4,000 home guards to secure the stadium and to maintain law and order in communally sensitive areas of the city during the match. In addition to these personnel, we will deploy three 'hit teams' and one anti-drone team of the NSG. Nine teams of our bomb detection and disposal squad will also be utilised."</p>

<p>"Apart from 13 companies of the state reserve police (SRP), we will deploy three companies of Rapid Action Force as part of our security setup. The RAF will keep a watch on communally sensitive areas of the city. To help people in case of a stampede, we have already prepared an evacuation plan and rehearsals are also going on at the stadium," Malik further claimed.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-2023-huge-blow-for-india-shubman-gill-hospitalised-in-chennai-unlikely-to-play-vs-pakistan-644769">CWC 2023: India batter Shubman Gill discharged from Chennai hospital, unlikely to play vs Pakistan - Report</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking about India and Pakistan's CWC 2023 performance so far, the home side were off to a winning start with a six-wicket victory over Australia on Sunday (Oct 8) in Chennai whereas Pakistan beat the Netherlands by 81 runs in their opener in Hyderabad last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, India have never lost to Pakistan in ODI World Cup history and enjoy a 7-0 lead in overall head-to-head record. Will Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. keep their record intact or will Babar Azam-led Men in Green open their account versus their arch-rivals this time around? Only time will tell...</p>

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Preparations are in full swing as India are set to host Pakistan in a marquee ODI World Cup 2023 clash on Saturday (Oct 14) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Preparations are in full swing as India are set to host Pakistan in a marquee ODI World Cup 2023 clash on Saturday (Oct 14) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the big-ticket clash, as many as over 11,000 personnel of various agencies, including Gujarat Police, NSG, RAF, and home guards among others are set to be deployed in Ahmedabad and at the stadium for the smooth conduct of the match, a senior officer said told. The official confirmed that the high-level security arrangements have been put in place following threats. A detailed meeting has been held between the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, state DGP Vikas Sahay, GS Malik and other senior police officers in Gandhinagar to analyse and review the police's action plan. Malik said while addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, "Along with more than 7,000 police personnel, we will deploy nearly 4,000 home guards to secure the stadium and to maintain law and order in communally sensitive areas of the city during the match. In addition to these personnel, we will deploy three 'hit teams' and one anti-drone team of the NSG. Nine teams of our bomb detection and disposal squad will also be utilised." "Apart from 13 companies of the state reserve police (SRP), we will deploy three companies of Rapid Action Force as part of our security setup. The RAF will keep a watch on communally sensitive areas of the city. To help people in case of a stampede, we have already prepared an evacuation plan and rehearsals are also going on at the stadium," Malik further claimed. Also read: CWC 2023: India batter Shubman Gill discharged from Chennai hospital, unlikely to play vs Pakistan - Report Talking about India and Pakistan's CWC 2023 performance so far, the home side were off to a winning start with a six-wicket victory over Australia on Sunday (Oct 8) in Chennai whereas Pakistan beat the Netherlands by 81 runs in their opener in Hyderabad last week. So far, India have never lost to Pakistan in ODI World Cup history and enjoy a 7-0 lead in overall head-to-head record. Will Rohit Sharma & Co. keep their record intact or will Babar Azam-led Men in Green open their account versus their arch-rivals this time around? Only time will tell... WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

11,000 security personnel to be deployed for India vs Pakistan ODI World Cup match in Ahmedabad

<p>The D-Day is finally here. ICC ODI World Cup 2023 gets underway on Thursday (October 5) in Ahmedabad with the defending champions England taking on New Zealand. For the past few months, there has been good hype around the ODI World Cup, being held entirely in India. Former cricketers and experts of the game have been making some bold predictions and ex-English batter Michael Atherton has also joined the bandwagon and made a very big claim. Atherton feels Pakistan will beat India in the CWC '23 edition face-off.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India and Pakistan have met each other on seven occasions in the 50-over World Cup history&nbsp;since 1992. On every occasion, the Men in Blue have beaten their arch-rivals Pakistan, but Atherton feels Babar Azam &amp; Co. will beat Rohit Sharma's Team India in the 2023 edition.&nbsp;Speaking about the clash on Sky Sports, the former England captain stated that the Men in Green will go past India&nbsp;this time around and win their first match against their arch-rivals in World Cup history.</p>

<p>India will host Pakistan in match 12 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on October 14 (Saturday). Atherton said that the match&nbsp;will be the biggest match of this year's World Cup unless both sides lock horns in the final or semi-final.</p>

<p>"As my bold prediction, I'm saying that for the first time in a 50-over World Cup Pakistan will beat India. They have won zero out of seven over the years. It's going to be the biggest game of the tournament, unless they meet again in a semi-final or, could you imagine, the final. It is sure to be a packed house; it will be mayhem and maybe Pakistan will jump a surprise," said Atherton.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-2023-rohit-sharma-opens-up-on-team-indias-approach-says-not-thinking-too-much-about-642633">ODI World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma opens up on Team India's approach, says 'not thinking too much about...'</a></strong></p>

<p>Pakistan play their first game&nbsp;on Friday (October 6) in Hyderabad, versus the Netherlands. Meanwhile, India will open their campaign in CWC '23 on October 8 when they face Australia in Chennai.</p>

<p>I<strong>ndia squad for CWC '23:&nbsp;</strong>Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav</p>

<p><strong>Pakistan squad for CWC '23:</strong>&nbsp;Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali</p>

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The D-Day is finally here. ICC ODI World Cup 2023 gets underway on Thursday (October 5) in Ahmedabad with the defending champions England taking on New Zealand. For the past few months, there has been good hype around the ODI World Cup, being held entirely in India.

The D-Day is finally here. ICC ODI World Cup 2023 gets underway on Thursday (October 5) in Ahmedabad with the defending champions England taking on New Zealand. For the past few months, there has been good hype around the ODI World Cup, being held entirely in India. Former cricketers and experts of the game have been making some bold predictions and ex-English batter Michael Atherton has also joined the bandwagon and made a very big claim. Atherton feels Pakistan will beat India in the CWC '23 edition face-off. India and Pakistan have met each other on seven occasions in the 50-over World Cup history since 1992. On every occasion, the Men in Blue have beaten their arch-rivals Pakistan, but Atherton feels Babar Azam & Co. will beat Rohit Sharma's Team India in the 2023 edition. Speaking about the clash on Sky Sports, the former England captain stated that the Men in Green will go past India this time around and win their first match against their arch-rivals in World Cup history. India will host Pakistan in match 12 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on October 14 (Saturday). Atherton said that the match will be the biggest match of this year's World Cup unless both sides lock horns in the final or semi-final. "As my bold prediction, I'm saying that for the first time in a 50-over World Cup Pakistan will beat India. They have won zero out of seven over the years. It's going to be the biggest game of the tournament, unless they meet again in a semi-final or, could you imagine, the final. It is sure to be a packed house; it will be mayhem and maybe Pakistan will jump a surprise," said Atherton. Also read: ODI World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma opens up on Team India's approach, says 'not thinking too much about...' Pakistan play their first game on Friday (October 6) in Hyderabad, versus the Netherlands. Meanwhile, India will open their campaign in CWC '23 on October 8 when they face Australia in Chennai. India squad for CWC '23: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav Pakistan squad for CWC '23: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan will beat India for the first-time in ODI World Cup history: Former England batter makes BOLD claim

<p>Babar Azam-led Pakistan arrived in India last week for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which gets underway on October 5 in Ahmedabad. The entire team received a warm welcome in Hyderabad, where they play their two warm-up games and their opening two encounters as well. Ahead of the tournament-opener, where defending champions England lock horns with New Zealand on Thursday, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir made a bold claim on Pakistan captain Babar.</p>

<p>Gambhir, while speaking on Star Sports, first backed Rohit Sharma to lead from the front for Team India and end their ten-year-long ICC title drought in the upcoming World Cup. He backed Rohit to be among the runs in favourable batting conditions and said, "The kind of ability he has. India are playing the World Cup at home. We all know about Rohit Sharma's record at home. He has three or four double hundreds. So I'm sure he will be really looking forward to and he will be eager to turn it around for India."</p>

<p>It is to be noted that Rohit has amassed 4,148 runs in 80 ODIs, averaging&nbsp;a healthy 58.42, while playing at home.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/want-virat-kohli-to-win-world-cup-2023-and-be-carried-on-shoulders-former-india-star-virender-sehwag-641698">Want Virat Kohli to win World Cup 2023 and be carried on shoulders: Former India star Virender Sehwag</a></strong></p>

<p>Gambhir then shifted focus on Babar and predicted that the Pakistan star batter will score 'three or four centuries' in the 50-over mega event.</p>

<p>"The kind of technique Babar Azam has, I think he will score three or four centuries for Pakistan in this World Cup."</p>

<p>Babar is gearing up for his first international match in India when his side open their CWC 2023 campaign on October 6 (Friday) versus the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in&nbsp;Hyderabad. They will then face Sri Lanka, at the same venue, before locking horns with arch-rivals India on October 14 in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Pakistan squad for World Cup</b>: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali</p>

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Babar Azam-led Pakistan arrived in India last week for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which gets underway on October 5 in Ahmedabad. The entire team received a warm welcome in Hyderabad, where they play their two warm-up games and their opening two encounters as well.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan arrived in India last week for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which gets underway on October 5 in Ahmedabad. The entire team received a warm welcome in Hyderabad, where they play their two warm-up games and their opening two encounters as well. Ahead of the tournament-opener, where defending champions England lock horns with New Zealand on Thursday, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir made a bold claim on Pakistan captain Babar. Gambhir, while speaking on Star Sports, first backed Rohit Sharma to lead from the front for Team India and end their ten-year-long ICC title drought in the upcoming World Cup. He backed Rohit to be among the runs in favourable batting conditions and said, "The kind of ability he has. India are playing the World Cup at home. We all know about Rohit Sharma's record at home. He has three or four double hundreds. So I'm sure he will be really looking forward to and he will be eager to turn it around for India." It is to be noted that Rohit has amassed 4,148 runs in 80 ODIs, averaging a healthy 58.42, while playing at home. Also read: Want Virat Kohli to win World Cup 2023 and be carried on shoulders: Former India star Virender Sehwag Gambhir then shifted focus on Babar and predicted that the Pakistan star batter will score 'three or four centuries' in the 50-over mega event. "The kind of technique Babar Azam has, I think he will score three or four centuries for Pakistan in this World Cup." Babar is gearing up for his first international match in India when his side open their CWC 2023 campaign on October 6 (Friday) versus the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. They will then face Sri Lanka, at the same venue, before locking horns with arch-rivals India on October 14 in Ahmedabad. Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CWC 2023: BIG CLAIM! Gautam Gambhir makes 'century' prediction for Pakistan captain Babar Azam

<p>Ahead of the CWC 2023 commencement&nbsp;on October 05 in Ahmedabad, Pakistan spinner and vice-captain Shadab Khan has hailed Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Shadab, who had a forgettable run in Asia Cup 2023, feels Hitman is the 'most difficult to bowl at'. Meanwhile, he also heaped praise on in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav and called him the most formidable Indian bowler. Kuldeep has been on a stellar run and will enter the upcoming World Cup after helping India win the Asia Cup and returning as Player Of The Tournament.</p>

<p>On Rohit, Shadab told reporters in Hyderabad, "I admire Rohit Sharma a lot and, among the leading batsmen in the world, he is the most difficult to bowl at. Once he gets set, he becomes very dangerous. Among the bowlers, since I am a leg-spinner, it will be Kuldeep Yadav given his recent form."</p>

<p>Rohit had taken Shadab to the cleaners with some big sixes during India and Pakistan's last encounter, which took place during the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup in Colombo. In the face-off, Shadab ended with 71 runs in ten overs and claimed a solitary wicket. The experienced campaigner didn't bowl in Pakistan's first World Cup warm-up game, where they failed to defend 346 versus New Zealand in Hyderabad, and, thus, his form will be closely monitored in Men in Green's last practice clash, where they face Australia on October 03 in Hyderabad.</p>

<p>Shadab will look to draw inspiration from India's in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who ended with nine wickets in the Asia Cup. Lauding the 28-year-old, Shadab said, "As a leg spinner, I like Kuldeep Yadav a lot. He is a great leg spinner and in sublime form. Bowling in such conditions is not easy especially for a spinner as the tracks are flat but he has done well."</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-have-chance-to-create-history-david-miller-on-south-africa-breaking-world-cup-deadlock-641486">We have chance to create history: David Miller on South Africa breaking World Cup deadlock</a></strong></p>

<p>Pakistan will open their CWC 2023 campaign versus the Netherlands on October 06 in Hyderabad. After that, they will face Sri Lanka, also in the same city, before travelling to Ahmedabad to lock horns with Rohit-led India in a high-voltage clash at CWC 2023 on October 14.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Pakistan squad for World Cup</b>: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali</p>

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Ahead of the CWC 2023 commencement on October 05 in Ahmedabad, Pakistan spinner and vice-captain Shadab Khan has hailed Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Shadab, who had a forgettable run in Asia Cup 2023, feels Hitman is the 'most difficult to bowl at'.

Ahead of the CWC 2023 commencement on October 05 in Ahmedabad, Pakistan spinner and vice-captain Shadab Khan has hailed Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Shadab, who had a forgettable run in Asia Cup 2023, feels Hitman is the 'most difficult to bowl at'. Meanwhile, he also heaped praise on in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav and called him the most formidable Indian bowler. Kuldeep has been on a stellar run and will enter the upcoming World Cup after helping India win the Asia Cup and returning as Player Of The Tournament. On Rohit, Shadab told reporters in Hyderabad, "I admire Rohit Sharma a lot and, among the leading batsmen in the world, he is the most difficult to bowl at. Once he gets set, he becomes very dangerous. Among the bowlers, since I am a leg-spinner, it will be Kuldeep Yadav given his recent form." Rohit had taken Shadab to the cleaners with some big sixes during India and Pakistan's last encounter, which took place during the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup in Colombo. In the face-off, Shadab ended with 71 runs in ten overs and claimed a solitary wicket. The experienced campaigner didn't bowl in Pakistan's first World Cup warm-up game, where they failed to defend 346 versus New Zealand in Hyderabad, and, thus, his form will be closely monitored in Men in Green's last practice clash, where they face Australia on October 03 in Hyderabad. Shadab will look to draw inspiration from India's in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who ended with nine wickets in the Asia Cup. Lauding the 28-year-old, Shadab said, "As a leg spinner, I like Kuldeep Yadav a lot. He is a great leg spinner and in sublime form. Bowling in such conditions is not easy especially for a spinner as the tracks are flat but he has done well." Also read: We have chance to create history: David Miller on South Africa breaking World Cup deadlock Pakistan will open their CWC 2023 campaign versus the Netherlands on October 06 in Hyderabad. After that, they will face Sri Lanka, also in the same city, before travelling to Ahmedabad to lock horns with Rohit-led India in a high-voltage clash at CWC 2023 on October 14. Pakistan squad for World Cup: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rohit Sharma is the most difficult to bowl at, says Shadab Khan ahead of India-Pakistan CWC '23 tie

<p>Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for India's Asia Cup campaign, where they begin their run versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The last time both sides met each other was during last year's T20 World Cup, held in Australia. Facing each other at the MCG, Melbourne, both sides produced a humdinger of a clash where Kohli made heads turn with his 53-ball 82 not out in India's four-wicket win in pursuit of 160. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recalled the right-hander's masterclass and feels the match was 'all about Kohli'.</p>

<h2><strong>'Cricket gods wanted to do it for Virat Kohli'</strong></h2>

<p>During an interaction with RevSportz, on a day when Kohli is celebrating 15 years of his international debut, Akhtar said, "That match was all about Virat Kohli. The cricket Gods wanted to do it for him. He wasn’t in the best of form and was facing a lot of heat from you guys in India. The media was after him. It was God’s way of telling him – this is your stage, come and become king again. If you see all that transpired – rain and a lot of it, 100,000 people, 1.3 billion Indians watching, 30 crore Pakistanis watching, the whole world in awe – the stage was set for Kohli. It was the greatest stage of all. When you add the two sixes he hit off Haris Rauf, that match gave him back his kingdom. I think it was all destined for him on that day at the MCG."</p>

<h2><strong>No white-ball cricket for Kohli post CWC '23?</strong></h2>

<p>On Kohli's future, Akhtar made a big claim and opined, "I don’t think he should play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup. Also, if you see him in T20s, it takes a lot out of him. I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup, and break this record."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/moment-ms-dhoni-gave-up-captaincy-things-went-south-akhtar-on-indias-icc-title-drought-since-2013-626699">Moment MS Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south: Akhtar on India's ICC title drought since 2013</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "Also, there was a lot of chat about him losing captaincy. I don’t read much into it. I actually think it has freed him up. Why did he start playing? He started his cricket to be like Sachin Tendulkar. He has become like Sachin. Scored loads of runs. Now, he should just continue to score runs for his team and win India more and more games. Losing captaincy is actually good for him as a batter, because the pressure of captaincy cripples you."</p>

<p>Recalling India-Pakistan's clash in the 2022 T20 WC, Rohit-led India opted to bowl and rode on Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh's three-fers to restrict Babar Azam &amp; Co. for 159 for 8. In reply, India was tottering at 31 for 4 before Kohli-Hardik's 113-run fifth-wicket stand revived the run-chase. The former Indian skipper remained unbeaten on 82, laced with 6 fours and 4 sixes, to take his side past the finish line in what was a last-ball finish.&nbsp;</p>

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Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for India's Asia Cup campaign, where they begin their run versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.

Virat Kohli is currently gearing up for India's Asia Cup campaign, where they begin their run versus arch-rivals Pakistan on September 02 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The last time both sides met each other was during last year's T20 World Cup, held in Australia. Facing each other at the MCG, Melbourne, both sides produced a humdinger of a clash where Kohli made heads turn with his 53-ball 82 not out in India's four-wicket win in pursuit of 160. Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar recalled the right-hander's masterclass and feels the match was 'all about Kohli'. 'Cricket gods wanted to do it for Virat Kohli' During an interaction with RevSportz, on a day when Kohli is celebrating 15 years of his international debut, Akhtar said, "That match was all about Virat Kohli. The cricket Gods wanted to do it for him. He wasn’t in the best of form and was facing a lot of heat from you guys in India. The media was after him. It was God’s way of telling him – this is your stage, come and become king again. If you see all that transpired – rain and a lot of it, 100,000 people, 1.3 billion Indians watching, 30 crore Pakistanis watching, the whole world in awe – the stage was set for Kohli. It was the greatest stage of all. When you add the two sixes he hit off Haris Rauf, that match gave him back his kingdom. I think it was all destined for him on that day at the MCG." No white-ball cricket for Kohli post CWC '23? On Kohli's future, Akhtar made a big claim and opined, "I don’t think he should play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup. Also, if you see him in T20s, it takes a lot out of him. I think he should play for at least six more years and break the 100 hundreds record of Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup, and break this record." Also read: Moment MS Dhoni gave up captaincy, things went south: Akhtar on India's ICC title drought since 2013 He added, "Also, there was a lot of chat about him losing captaincy. I don’t read much into it. I actually think it has freed him up. Why did he start playing? He started his cricket to be like Sachin Tendulkar. He has become like Sachin. Scored loads of runs. Now, he should just continue to score runs for his team and win India more and more games. Losing captaincy is actually good for him as a batter, because the pressure of captaincy cripples you." Recalling India-Pakistan's clash in the 2022 T20 WC, Rohit-led India opted to bowl and rode on Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh's three-fers to restrict Babar Azam & Co. for 159 for 8. In reply, India was tottering at 31 for 4 before Kohli-Hardik's 113-run fifth-wicket stand revived the run-chase. The former Indian skipper remained unbeaten on 82, laced with 6 fours and 4 sixes, to take his side past the finish line in what was a last-ball finish. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'It was God’s way of telling....': Akhtar recalls Virat Kohli's masterclass vs Pakistan in T20 World Cup

<p>Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Iftikhar Ahmed has been in the news for a while. A statement went viral recently, where the 32-year-old allegedly compared competing against India to playing with "street children". The remark went viral in no time on social media platforms and the Pakistan batter faced a lot of heat online. However, he has now responded to the statement and termed it fake. Iftikhar said that 'no professional cricketer will make such a statement' and slammed the fan who is at fault for "spreading hate".</p>

<h2><strong>'Please stop circulating false news, report this individual for spreading hate'</strong></h2>

<p>"I've been made aware of this statement which I've never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news &amp; report this individual for spreading hate. @X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick," Iftikhar posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-releases-new-promotional-video-including-imran-khan-after-social-media-backlash-626265">PCB releases new promotional video featuring Imran Khan after social media backlash</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’ve been made aware of this statement which I’ve never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news &amp; report this individual for spreading hate.<a href="https://twitter.com/X?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@X</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick. <a href="https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp">https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp</a> <a href="https://t.co/fExqNRa9Zk">pic.twitter.com/fExqNRa9Zk</a></p>
— Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiMania) <a href="https://twitter.com/IftiMania/status/1691844717451886704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>At present, Iftikhar is gearing up for the forthcoming Asia Cup -- to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan.</p>

<p>The continental tournament will kick off on August 30 with Pakistan hosting Nepal, whereas the Babar Azam-led Men in Green face arch-rivals Rohit Sharma-led India on September 02 in Pallekele. The two sides are expected to lock horns in the Super Four and can also meet in the summit clash, to be held on September 17 in Colombo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iftikhar, who is a popular name in his country due to his big-hitting skills, is part of a strong 17-man squad for the upcoming multi-nation event. He was recently seen in action in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 edition, where he represented the Colombo Strikers who failed to make it to the playoffs.</p>

<p><strong>Pakistan squad for Asia Cup:&nbsp;</strong>Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.</p>

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Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Iftikhar Ahmed has been in the news for a while. A statement went viral recently, where the 32-year-old allegedly compared competing against India to playing with "street children".

Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Iftikhar Ahmed has been in the news for a while. A statement went viral recently, where the 32-year-old allegedly compared competing against India to playing with "street children". The remark went viral in no time on social media platforms and the Pakistan batter faced a lot of heat online. However, he has now responded to the statement and termed it fake. Iftikhar said that 'no professional cricketer will make such a statement' and slammed the fan who is at fault for "spreading hate". 'Please stop circulating false news, report this individual for spreading hate' "I've been made aware of this statement which I've never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news & report this individual for spreading hate. @X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick," Iftikhar posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Also read: PCB releases new promotional video featuring Imran Khan after social media backlash I’ve been made aware of this statement which I’ve never made. In fact, no professional cricketer will make such a statement. Please stop circulating false news & report this individual for spreading hate.@X @elonmusk please ban this account as people are misusing the blue tick. https://t.co/dmgDEfM9jp pic.twitter.com/fExqNRa9Zk — Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiMania) August 16, 2023 × At present, Iftikhar is gearing up for the forthcoming Asia Cup -- to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The continental tournament will kick off on August 30 with Pakistan hosting Nepal, whereas the Babar Azam-led Men in Green face arch-rivals Rohit Sharma-led India on September 02 in Pallekele. The two sides are expected to lock horns in the Super Four and can also meet in the summit clash, to be held on September 17 in Colombo. Iftikhar, who is a popular name in his country due to his big-hitting skills, is part of a strong 17-man squad for the upcoming multi-nation event. He was recently seen in action in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 edition, where he represented the Colombo Strikers who failed to make it to the playoffs. Pakistan squad for Asia Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed reacts to fake remark on Team India, lashes out at fan for 'spreading hate'

<p>The much-awaited ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition's revised schedule is now out. After a lot of speculations, a total of nine games have been rescheduled, including the marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad. The high-voltage clash between the two Asian giants will now take place a day before, i.e., on October 14 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. This has been done to manage security amid a prominent Indian festival.&nbsp;The original date, October 15, coincides with the commencement of Navaratri, the Hindu festival celebrated in most Northern states.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among others, Pakistan versus England's date has also been altered. The clash between the 1992 finalists was set to take place on November 12 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. It will now be held on November 11 at the same venue.&nbsp; <strong>Here's a look at the revised fixtures for the upcoming mega event:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h3><strong>RESCHEDULED FIXTURES AT CWC 2023</strong></h3>

<p>England vs Bangladesh - October 10, 10:30 am IST<br />
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - October 10, 2 pm IST<br />
Australia vs South Africa - Thursday, October 12 - 2 pm IST<br />
New Zealand vs Bangladesh - Friday, October 13 - 2 pm IST<br />
<strong>India vs Pakistan - Saturday, October 14 - 2 pm IST</strong><br />
England vs Afghanistan - Sunday, October 15 - 2 pm IST<br />
Australia vs Bangladesh - Saturday, November 11 - 10:30 am IST<br />
England vs Pakistan - Saturday, November 11 - 2 pm IST<br />
India vs Netherlands - Sunday, November 12 - 2 pm IST</p>

<p><strong>FULL SCHEDULE OF CWC 2023</strong></p>
<img alt="CWC 2023 REVISED SCHEDULE" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e341c310-0ddb-4475-8cdb-6eeefce1798f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/World%20Cup.JPG" />
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-most-balanced-test-side-at-home-former-england-captain-nasser-hussain-lauds-rohit-sharma-co-623862">India most balanced Test side at home: Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauds Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.</a></strong></p>

<p>For Babar Azam-led Pakistan, three of their games have been rescheduled. The other notable changes are the games between Australia vs&nbsp;South Africa, New Zealand vs Bangladesh, and India vs the Netherlands to name a few. India will now lock horns with the Dutch line-up&nbsp;in what will be their last game in the round-robin stage, on November 12 coinciding with Diwali - one of the biggest Hindu festivals. There are, however, no changes to the semi-finals and final.</p>

<p>The 10-team 50-over showpiece event will kick off on October 05 between defending champions England and New Zealand. India will open their campaign versus Australia, in Chennai, on October 14. The semi-finals will be held on November 15 and 16, at Mumbai and Kolkata respectively, whereas the summit clash will be on November 19 in Ahmedabad.</p>

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The much-awaited ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition's revised schedule is now out. After a lot of speculations, a total of nine games have been rescheduled, including the marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad.

The much-awaited ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition's revised schedule is now out. After a lot of speculations, a total of nine games have been rescheduled, including the marquee face-off between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad. The high-voltage clash between the two Asian giants will now take place a day before, i.e., on October 14 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad. This has been done to manage security amid a prominent Indian festival. The original date, October 15, coincides with the commencement of Navaratri, the Hindu festival celebrated in most Northern states. Among others, Pakistan versus England's date has also been altered. The clash between the 1992 finalists was set to take place on November 12 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. It will now be held on November 11 at the same venue. Here's a look at the revised fixtures for the upcoming mega event: RESCHEDULED FIXTURES AT CWC 2023 England vs Bangladesh - October 10, 10:30 am IST Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - October 10, 2 pm IST Australia vs South Africa - Thursday, October 12 - 2 pm IST New Zealand vs Bangladesh - Friday, October 13 - 2 pm IST India vs Pakistan - Saturday, October 14 - 2 pm IST England vs Afghanistan - Sunday, October 15 - 2 pm IST Australia vs Bangladesh - Saturday, November 11 - 10:30 am IST England vs Pakistan - Saturday, November 11 - 2 pm IST India vs Netherlands - Sunday, November 12 - 2 pm IST FULL SCHEDULE OF CWC 2023 Also read: India most balanced Test side at home: Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauds Rohit Sharma & Co. For Babar Azam-led Pakistan, three of their games have been rescheduled. The other notable changes are the games between Australia vs South Africa, New Zealand vs Bangladesh, and India vs the Netherlands to name a few. India will now lock horns with the Dutch line-up in what will be their last game in the round-robin stage, on November 12 coinciding with Diwali - one of the biggest Hindu festivals. There are, however, no changes to the semi-finals and final. The 10-team 50-over showpiece event will kick off on October 05 between defending champions England and New Zealand. India will open their campaign versus Australia, in Chennai, on October 14. The semi-finals will be held on November 15 and 16, at Mumbai and Kolkata respectively, whereas the summit clash will be on November 19 in Ahmedabad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CWC '23 revised schedule: India vs Pakistan to take place on October 14, eight more fixtures rescheduled

<p>The drama regarding Pakistan's participation in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is far from over. An&nbsp;upcoming ICC meeting is set to take place in Durban, South Africa and the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, is keen to push for the Babar Azam-led Men in Green to play their World Cup games at neutral venues. It is mainly because India didn't agree to travel to Pakistan for this year's Asia Cup&nbsp;to be held in August-September.</p>

<h2><strong>'Want neutral venues if India doesn’t want to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup'</strong></h2>

<p>“Zaka Ashraf will bring up the issue of why can’t Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup be played at neutral venues when the Indian team can’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. I want our World Cup matches at neutral venues if India doesn’t want to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup. If they have security problems in Pakistan according to the Indian board, then we can also question the security situation in India,” said Ahsan Mazari as quoted by PTI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan's participation in the 50-over showpiece event has become a huge talking point. The&nbsp;final decision&nbsp;will be taken by their&nbsp;government. However, there is no end to the drama between PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). While the Indian cricket board made it clear that they won't send their team to Pakistan for this year's Asia Cup, the tournament's future was under dark clouds before a hybrid model came up, with the India games -- including their marquee clash versus Pakistan -- to be held in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/people-are-going-overboard-harbhajan-singh-backs-under-fire-captain-rohit-sharma-ahead-of-wi-tour-613905">People are going overboard: Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire captain Rohit Sharma ahead of WI tour</a></strong></p>

<p>Only four matches&nbsp;of the Asia Cup 2023 edition will take place in Pakistan, allowing Babar &amp; Co.&nbsp;to take the field in front of their home fans only once. Thus, this has not been well received by the PCB, whereas their demands with regard to the venue changes for the ODI World Cup have&nbsp;also not been entertained.</p>

<p>Thus, Ashraf aims to push Pakistan's ODI WC games to be played at neutral venues and not in India. As of now, the 1992 champions are&nbsp;set to play their nine league-stage games in five different venues&nbsp;in India.</p>

<p><strong>Pakistan's schedule at CWC' 23</strong></p>

<p>October 6: Pakistan vs Netherlands, Hyderabad<br />
October 12: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Hyderabad<br />
October 15: Pakistan vs India, Ahmedabad<br />
October 20: Pakistan vs Australia, Bengaluru<br />
October 23: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Chennai<br />
October 27: Pakistan vs South Africa, Chennai<br />
October 31: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Kolkata<br />
November 4: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Bengaluru<br />
November 12: Pakistan vs England, Kolkata</p>

<p>It remains to be seen if there will be any change with regard to the Asia Cup whereas Pakistan's participation in the ODI WC is also subject to clearance by their government.</p>

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The drama regarding Pakistan's participation in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is far from over. An upcoming ICC meeting is set to take place in Durban, South Africa and the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, is keen to push for the Babar Azam-led Men in Green to play their World Cup games at neutral venues.

The drama regarding Pakistan's participation in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is far from over. An upcoming ICC meeting is set to take place in Durban, South Africa and the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, is keen to push for the Babar Azam-led Men in Green to play their World Cup games at neutral venues. It is mainly because India didn't agree to travel to Pakistan for this year's Asia Cup to be held in August-September. 'Want neutral venues if India doesn’t want to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup' “Zaka Ashraf will bring up the issue of why can’t Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup be played at neutral venues when the Indian team can’t travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. I want our World Cup matches at neutral venues if India doesn’t want to send its team to Pakistan for Asia Cup. If they have security problems in Pakistan according to the Indian board, then we can also question the security situation in India,” said Ahsan Mazari as quoted by PTI. Pakistan's participation in the 50-over showpiece event has become a huge talking point. The final decision will be taken by their government. However, there is no end to the drama between PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). While the Indian cricket board made it clear that they won't send their team to Pakistan for this year's Asia Cup, the tournament's future was under dark clouds before a hybrid model came up, with the India games -- including their marquee clash versus Pakistan -- to be held in Sri Lanka. Also Read: People are going overboard: Harbhajan Singh backs under-fire captain Rohit Sharma ahead of WI tour Only four matches of the Asia Cup 2023 edition will take place in Pakistan, allowing Babar & Co. to take the field in front of their home fans only once. Thus, this has not been well received by the PCB, whereas their demands with regard to the venue changes for the ODI World Cup have also not been entertained. Thus, Ashraf aims to push Pakistan's ODI WC games to be played at neutral venues and not in India. As of now, the 1992 champions are set to play their nine league-stage games in five different venues in India. Pakistan's schedule at CWC' 23 October 6: Pakistan vs Netherlands, Hyderabad October 12: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Hyderabad October 15: Pakistan vs India, Ahmedabad October 20: Pakistan vs Australia, Bengaluru October 23: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Chennai October 27: Pakistan vs South Africa, Chennai October 31: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Kolkata November 4: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Bengaluru November 12: Pakistan vs England, Kolkata It remains to be seen if there will be any change with regard to the Asia Cup whereas Pakistan's participation in the ODI WC is also subject to clearance by their government. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf to push for Pakistan to play ODI WC games at neutral venues during ICC meeting

<p>Ahead of the marquee India-Pakistan clash in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, in India, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi feels that equal importance should be given to all other games as well and not just the one versus Team India. Afridi, who was the Player-of-the-Match in Pakistan's only World Cup win over India&nbsp;during the 2021 T20 World Cup, stated that his countrymen should treat the India game as only one match and their aim is to win the ODI World Cup title.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We should stop thinking and concentrating on just India versus Pakistan match because that’s just one game. We need to focus our thoughts on how to win the World Cup, and as a team, this will be our aim," Afridi was quoted as saying in a report by&nbsp;<i>Cricket Pakistan</i>. Speaking about the India-Pak battle, the two teams will face off at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on October 15.</p>

<p>The tournament will kick off with defending champions England facing New Zealand on October 05, in Ahmedabad, whereas India will meet Australia in their opening game, on October 08, in Chennai. On the other hand, Pakistan will meet Qualifier 1 (either Netherlands or Scotland) on October 06 in Hyderabad.</p>

<p>Afridi, 23, is one of the most important players in Babar Azam-led Pakistan line-up. In the recent past, the speedster has been injured -- since the 2022 T20 World Cup final -- but is now fully fit and put on a splendid show in the Vitality Blast. He is now gearing up for Pakistan's two-match Test series versus Sri Lanka&nbsp;in the island nation, which starts on July 16. Ahead of the series opener, Shaheen revealed that he is fully fit.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/feels-like-hardik-pandya-will-lead-team-india-in-2024-t20-world-cup-as-well-says-former-indian-opener-612546">Feels like Hardik Pandya will lead Team India in 2024 T20 World Cup as well, says former Indian opener</a></strong></p>

<p>"I am fully fit,&nbsp;that's why I'm back in the Test team. If I hadn't been fully match fit, my name wouldn't have been in the squad. I will be playing for Pakistan's national team, not for a club-level team," added the talented pacer.</p>

<p>With the World Cup only a few months away, Shaheen will be desperate to remain fully fit and deliver with the ball for Team Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

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Ahead of the marquee India-Pakistan clash in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, in India, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi feels that equal importance should be given to all other games as well and not just the one versus Team India.

Ahead of the marquee India-Pakistan clash in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, in India, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi feels that equal importance should be given to all other games as well and not just the one versus Team India. Afridi, who was the Player-of-the-Match in Pakistan's only World Cup win over India during the 2021 T20 World Cup, stated that his countrymen should treat the India game as only one match and their aim is to win the ODI World Cup title. "We should stop thinking and concentrating on just India versus Pakistan match because that’s just one game. We need to focus our thoughts on how to win the World Cup, and as a team, this will be our aim," Afridi was quoted as saying in a report by Cricket Pakistan. Speaking about the India-Pak battle, the two teams will face off at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on October 15. The tournament will kick off with defending champions England facing New Zealand on October 05, in Ahmedabad, whereas India will meet Australia in their opening game, on October 08, in Chennai. On the other hand, Pakistan will meet Qualifier 1 (either Netherlands or Scotland) on October 06 in Hyderabad. Afridi, 23, is one of the most important players in Babar Azam-led Pakistan line-up. In the recent past, the speedster has been injured -- since the 2022 T20 World Cup final -- but is now fully fit and put on a splendid show in the Vitality Blast. He is now gearing up for Pakistan's two-match Test series versus Sri Lanka in the island nation, which starts on July 16. Ahead of the series opener, Shaheen revealed that he is fully fit. Also Read: Feels like Hardik Pandya will lead Team India in 2024 T20 World Cup as well, says former Indian opener "I am fully fit, that's why I'm back in the Test team. If I hadn't been fully match fit, my name wouldn't have been in the squad. I will be playing for Pakistan's national team, not for a club-level team," added the talented pacer. With the World Cup only a few months away, Shaheen will be desperate to remain fully fit and deliver with the ball for Team Pakistan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Stop concentrating on India vs Pakistan: Shaheen Afridi says winning CWC'23 is Babar & Co's main aim

<p>India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition, later this year in October-November. So far, India have been unbeaten versus their arch-rivals in the 50-over mega event. They enjoy a 7-0 winning streak over the Men in Green and Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. will be eager to keep their record intact as the two teams will meet at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on October on October 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the marquee clash, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly opined on the India-Pakistan games and made a big statement. Speaking to on Star Sports, Ganguly said, "There is a lot of hype in this match but the quality has not been that good for a long time because India kept on winning one-sided. Pakistan probably defeated India for the first time in the T20 World Cup in Dubai."</p>

<p>Ganguly's remark made heads turn but he probably was talking about the Indo-Pak World Cup clashes. In both ODI and T20 WCs, India have been at their dominant best versus Pakistan. They lead Pakistan 7-0 in ODI WC and have a 6-1 lead in T20 WC history. However, Pakistan have made amends in the previous few face-offs. They beat India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final and thrashed them by ten wickets in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Moreover, the two sides met in last year's Asia Cup where both won a game each. The two encounters saw a last-over finish.</p>

<p>In addition, India and Pakistan played a humdinger in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia where Virat Kohli's masterclass led to Men in Blue's thrilling win. Thus, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has now reacted to Ganguly's remark.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Ganguly is trying to play mind games'</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit said, "I don't agree with him saying that India vs Pakistan matches are one-sided in favour of India. No doubt you have beaten us a lot in ICC World Cups before but that hasn't been the case since 2017. We beat India at the T20 World Cup in UAE and last year in the Asia Cup, won one, lost one. Yes, India defeated Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in Australia but that was purely because of Virat Kohli. He won it single-handedly. Clearly the best-ever T20 innings."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-how-west-indies-failed-to-grab-odi-world-cup-ticket-with-debacle-at-the-qualifiers-611930">Explained: How West Indies failed to bag an ODI World Cup ticket with debacle in the qualifiers</a></strong></p>

<p>Further, Basit also responded to Ganguly claiming that India versus Australia games have better quality. Ganguly had stated, "India vs Australia tends to be a better game in the World Cup because the quality is better'. To this, the former Pakistani cricketer said, "He also said that India vs Australia is a bigger crowd puller than India vs Pakistan. To that, I would just want to say that 'Brother, when India plays Australia, are roads in your country empty? No. They are empty whenever there's an India-Pakistan match - both in India and in Pakistan. Everyone is glued to their TV screen and are praying. Look at the ticket prices for the World Cup; India-Australia costs are nowhere close to India-Pakistan's. So I feel that Ganguly - DADA ji - is just trying to play mind games."</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see what happens when the two sides meet in this year's ODI WC in India. Before they, they will also meet in the Asia Cup (possibly on three occasions). Overall, the arch-rivals have a chance to lock horns on five instances this year. Thus, some blockbuster games are on the cards.</p>

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India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition, later this year in October-November. So far, India have been unbeaten versus their arch-rivals in the 50-over mega event.

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 edition, later this year in October-November. So far, India have been unbeaten versus their arch-rivals in the 50-over mega event. They enjoy a 7-0 winning streak over the Men in Green and Rohit Sharma & Co. will be eager to keep their record intact as the two teams will meet at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on October on October 15. Ahead of the marquee clash, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly opined on the India-Pakistan games and made a big statement. Speaking to on Star Sports, Ganguly said, "There is a lot of hype in this match but the quality has not been that good for a long time because India kept on winning one-sided. Pakistan probably defeated India for the first time in the T20 World Cup in Dubai." Ganguly's remark made heads turn but he probably was talking about the Indo-Pak World Cup clashes. In both ODI and T20 WCs, India have been at their dominant best versus Pakistan. They lead Pakistan 7-0 in ODI WC and have a 6-1 lead in T20 WC history. However, Pakistan have made amends in the previous few face-offs. They beat India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final and thrashed them by ten wickets in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Moreover, the two sides met in last year's Asia Cup where both won a game each. The two encounters saw a last-over finish. In addition, India and Pakistan played a humdinger in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia where Virat Kohli's masterclass led to Men in Blue's thrilling win. Thus, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has now reacted to Ganguly's remark. 'Ganguly is trying to play mind games' Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit said, "I don't agree with him saying that India vs Pakistan matches are one-sided in favour of India. No doubt you have beaten us a lot in ICC World Cups before but that hasn't been the case since 2017. We beat India at the T20 World Cup in UAE and last year in the Asia Cup, won one, lost one. Yes, India defeated Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in Australia but that was purely because of Virat Kohli. He won it single-handedly. Clearly the best-ever T20 innings." Also Read: Explained: How West Indies failed to bag an ODI World Cup ticket with debacle in the qualifiers Further, Basit also responded to Ganguly claiming that India versus Australia games have better quality. Ganguly had stated, "India vs Australia tends to be a better game in the World Cup because the quality is better'. To this, the former Pakistani cricketer said, "He also said that India vs Australia is a bigger crowd puller than India vs Pakistan. To that, I would just want to say that 'Brother, when India plays Australia, are roads in your country empty? No. They are empty whenever there's an India-Pakistan match - both in India and in Pakistan. Everyone is glued to their TV screen and are praying. Look at the ticket prices for the World Cup; India-Australia costs are nowhere close to India-Pakistan's. So I feel that Ganguly - DADA ji - is just trying to play mind games." It will be interesting to see what happens when the two sides meet in this year's ODI WC in India. Before they, they will also meet in the Asia Cup (possibly on three occasions). Overall, the arch-rivals have a chance to lock horns on five instances this year. Thus, some blockbuster games are on the cards. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

He's playing mind games: Ex-Pak batter on Sourav Ganguly's 'IND-PAK matches are one-sided' remark

<p>India and Pakistan now lock horns in the 22-yard cricket strip only during multi-nation or ICC events. While the meetings have considerably reduced, due to strained political relations between both nations, the rivalry remains spicy and intense on the field. During the 2015 ODI World Cup, India and Pakistan opened their respective campaigns against each other at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. In a one-sided contest, MS Dhoni &amp; Co. beat Misbah-ul-Haq by 76 runs to open their account in style. Although the match didn't live up to expectations, there was a lot of heat and intensity between players from both camps with Pakistan pacer Sohail Khan and Virat Kohli being engaged in a heated spat.</p>

<p>The incident took place when Sohail came to bat during Pakistan's 301-run chase at the Adelaide Oval. As per Sohail, Kohli came up to him and started the war of words. Sohail recalled the episode on the Nadir Ali Podcast. He revealed what Kohli told him in the middle. "Aap cricket mein abhi aaye hain. And itni baatein karte ho (You've just arrived and you speak so much)." To this, Sohail said, "I was a Test cricketer back then. I had played Test matches in 2006-07. Then in between, I endured a troubled knee which forced me out of action. I said 'Beta jab tu Under-19 khel raha tha na, tera baap Test cricketer tha' (Son, when you were playing Under-19 for India, your father [referring to himself] was a Test player). That's how I said it."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-kohli-heres-which-indian-captain-has-won-most-tests-in-history-of-border-gavaskar-trophy-558459">Not Virat Kohli! Here's which Indian captain has won most Tests in history of Border Gavaskar Trophy</a></strong></p>

<p>Sohail then added, "Then if you see carefully, Misbah intervened and he got angry at me. He asked me to keep quiet. Then MS Dhoni also came and told Kohli 'Side pe ho jao, ye purana chawal hai, tu nahi jaanta isko. (Back down. He has been around for a long time. You don't know him). Kohli then went and stood in one corner."</p>

<p>Talking about the match, Dhoni-led India opted to bat first and rode on Kohli's sublime 107 along with Shikhar Dhawan's 73 and Suresh Raina's 74 to post 300 for 7. In reply, Pakistan never got going in the run-chase with Misbah being the lone warrior; slamming an 84-ball 76. They started off well and were 79 for 1 but once they lost Ahmed Shehzad (47), they never got back in the contest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India went onto top Pool B, comprising Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, and the likes, to reach the semi-finals -- where they lost to eventual winners Australia -- whereas Pakistan's campaign came to an end in the quarters.</p>


India and Pakistan now lock horns in the 22-yard cricket strip only during multi-nation or ICC events. While the meetings have considerably reduced, due to strained political relations between both nations, the rivalry remains spicy and intense on the field.

India and Pakistan now lock horns in the 22-yard cricket strip only during multi-nation or ICC events. While the meetings have considerably reduced, due to strained political relations between both nations, the rivalry remains spicy and intense on the field. During the 2015 ODI World Cup, India and Pakistan opened their respective campaigns against each other at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. In a one-sided contest, MS Dhoni & Co. beat Misbah-ul-Haq by 76 runs to open their account in style. Although the match didn't live up to expectations, there was a lot of heat and intensity between players from both camps with Pakistan pacer Sohail Khan and Virat Kohli being engaged in a heated spat. The incident took place when Sohail came to bat during Pakistan's 301-run chase at the Adelaide Oval. As per Sohail, Kohli came up to him and started the war of words. Sohail recalled the episode on the Nadir Ali Podcast. He revealed what Kohli told him in the middle. "Aap cricket mein abhi aaye hain. And itni baatein karte ho (You've just arrived and you speak so much)." To this, Sohail said, "I was a Test cricketer back then. I had played Test matches in 2006-07. Then in between, I endured a troubled knee which forced me out of action. I said 'Beta jab tu Under-19 khel raha tha na, tera baap Test cricketer tha' (Son, when you were playing Under-19 for India, your father [referring to himself] was a Test player). That's how I said it." Also read: Not Virat Kohli! Here's which Indian captain has won most Tests in history of Border Gavaskar Trophy Sohail then added, "Then if you see carefully, Misbah intervened and he got angry at me. He asked me to keep quiet. Then MS Dhoni also came and told Kohli 'Side pe ho jao, ye purana chawal hai, tu nahi jaanta isko. (Back down. He has been around for a long time. You don't know him). Kohli then went and stood in one corner." Talking about the match, Dhoni-led India opted to bat first and rode on Kohli's sublime 107 along with Shikhar Dhawan's 73 and Suresh Raina's 74 to post 300 for 7. In reply, Pakistan never got going in the run-chase with Misbah being the lone warrior; slamming an 84-ball 76. They started off well and were 79 for 1 but once they lost Ahmed Shehzad (47), they never got back in the contest. India went onto top Pool B, comprising Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, and the likes, to reach the semi-finals -- where they lost to eventual winners Australia -- whereas Pakistan's campaign came to an end in the quarters.

'You don't know him': PAK pacer recalls Dhoni's words to Kohli during heated exchange in 2015 ODI WC

<p>India and Pakistan locked horns in the 2021 T20 World Cup after a long gap, following the 2019 ODI World Cup. While the head-to-head record favoured India, the then Virat Kohli-led Indian team fell flat against the Babar Azam-led Pakistan line-up. Being asked to bat first, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, Kohli &amp; Co. managed a modest 151 for 7, after being 31 for 3 at one stage, and didn't put up any sort of fight while defending the total. As a result, skipper Babar and Md Rizwan's unbeaten 152-run opening stand took the Men in Green to their first-ever World Cup win over their arch-rivals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rizwan, in an interview with&nbsp;<em>Sky Sports Cricket,&nbsp;</em>recalled his side's epic win over Team India last year. He revealed how the Pakistan fans responded to the win and went all-out in their love and admiration for the national side.&nbsp;"When we won against India, that time, I thought it was only a match for me. It was because we won that game easily. But when I came to Pakistan, I realised how much it meant. Whenever I went to a shop, they won't take money from me. They would say, 'you go, you go. I won't take money from you!'" Rizwan said. "People would say, 'everything is free for you here. This is the love from all of Pakistan after that match," he added.</p>

<p>Rizwan (79 not out) and Babar (68 not out) were the top performers with the bat but Shaheen Afridi set it up for his side with an impressive 3 for 31 with the ball.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kane-williamson-resigns-as-new-zealand-test-captain-tim-southee-named-his-successor-543172"><strong>Kane Williamson resigns as New Zealand Test captain, Tim Southee named his successor</strong></a></p>

<p>After 2021 T20 WC, India and Pakistan have met thrice. In 2022, both sides locked horns on three occasions with India winning two out of them. The two Asian giants met twice in the Asia Cup 2022 edition before squaring off in an epic game in the 2022 T20 WC in Australia. Asking Pakistan to bat first, India restricted them to 159-7 and chased down the score with four wickets in hand, on the last ball of the contest, riding on Kohli's masterclass 82 not out.&nbsp;<br />
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India and Pakistan locked horns in the 2021 T20 World Cup after a long gap, following the 2019 ODI World Cup. While the head-to-head record favoured India, the then Virat Kohli-led Indian team fell flat against the Babar Azam-led Pakistan line-up.

India and Pakistan locked horns in the 2021 T20 World Cup after a long gap, following the 2019 ODI World Cup. While the head-to-head record favoured India, the then Virat Kohli-led Indian team fell flat against the Babar Azam-led Pakistan line-up. Being asked to bat first, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, Kohli & Co. managed a modest 151 for 7, after being 31 for 3 at one stage, and didn't put up any sort of fight while defending the total. As a result, skipper Babar and Md Rizwan's unbeaten 152-run opening stand took the Men in Green to their first-ever World Cup win over their arch-rivals. Rizwan, in an interview with Sky Sports Cricket, recalled his side's epic win over Team India last year. He revealed how the Pakistan fans responded to the win and went all-out in their love and admiration for the national side. "When we won against India, that time, I thought it was only a match for me. It was because we won that game easily. But when I came to Pakistan, I realised how much it meant. Whenever I went to a shop, they won't take money from me. They would say, 'you go, you go. I won't take money from you!'" Rizwan said. "People would say, 'everything is free for you here. This is the love from all of Pakistan after that match," he added. Rizwan (79 not out) and Babar (68 not out) were the top performers with the bat but Shaheen Afridi set it up for his side with an impressive 3 for 31 with the ball. Also read: Kane Williamson resigns as New Zealand Test captain, Tim Southee named his successor After 2021 T20 WC, India and Pakistan have met thrice. In 2022, both sides locked horns on three occasions with India winning two out of them. The two Asian giants met twice in the Asia Cup 2022 edition before squaring off in an epic game in the 2022 T20 WC in Australia. Asking Pakistan to bat first, India restricted them to 159-7 and chased down the score with four wickets in hand, on the last ball of the contest, riding on Kohli's masterclass 82 not out. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Whenever I went to shop...': Rizwan on Pakistan fans' response after win over India in 2021 T20 WC

<p>There isn't much time before the India-Pakistna T20 World Cup 2022 clash gets underway. Ahead of the big-ticket encounter, there has been a lot of talk regarding the weather conditions in Melbourne. One can expect rain showers to interrupt the match but it shouldn't be a rain-abandoned encounter. A rain-curtailed contest can be on cards for the high-voltage clash at the MCG, Melbourne.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cricket lovers from both sides are also eager to know the pitch conditions for the marquee encounter. The last time both sides met each other in the T20 WC, Babar Azam-led Pakistan made early inroads as Shaheen Afridi got enough assistance in the early overs and bowled the right lengths to rattle India's top order. After India managed to post 151-7, Pakistan chased down the score with ten wickets in hand, courtesy of openers Babar and Md Rizwan's unbeaten half-centuries.</p>

<p><strong>Here's the expected pitch conditions at the MCG, Melbourne for the T20 WC marquee clash</strong></p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2022-india-vs-pakistan-live-cricket-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-epic-face-off-527678"><strong>T20 World Cup 2022: India vs Pakistan, Live Cricket Streaming: When and where to watch epic face-off?</strong></a></p>

<p>Ahead of the match, MCG pitch curator Michael Salvatore has said that the wicket will remain consistent throughout the course of the game. "T20 wickets are usually really consistent for the whole match. So it should make for a really good game. We have brought it from our wicket nursery which is just outside the ground. It's literally 200 meters outside the ground so we can move and monitor and maintain the wickets all year around. And the wickets were installed three weeks ago," Salvatore said during an interaction with A Sports.</p>

<p>"So we have drop-in wickets here at the MCG. So for the cricket season we bring the wickets in and I sit on some sand and bed in nicely. And then once cricket finishes, we have got the football stadium. We have the ability to take them out and put them up in our special week anniversary where we can look after and maintain them," he added.</p>

<p>India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B in the Super 12 round, along with Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Netherlands.</p>


There isn't much time before the India-Pakistna T20 World Cup 2022 clash gets underway. Ahead of the big-ticket encounter, there has been a lot of talk regarding the weather conditions in Melbourne.

There isn't much time before the India-Pakistna T20 World Cup 2022 clash gets underway. Ahead of the big-ticket encounter, there has been a lot of talk regarding the weather conditions in Melbourne. One can expect rain showers to interrupt the match but it shouldn't be a rain-abandoned encounter. A rain-curtailed contest can be on cards for the high-voltage clash at the MCG, Melbourne. The cricket lovers from both sides are also eager to know the pitch conditions for the marquee encounter. The last time both sides met each other in the T20 WC, Babar Azam-led Pakistan made early inroads as Shaheen Afridi got enough assistance in the early overs and bowled the right lengths to rattle India's top order. After India managed to post 151-7, Pakistan chased down the score with ten wickets in hand, courtesy of openers Babar and Md Rizwan's unbeaten half-centuries. Here's the expected pitch conditions at the MCG, Melbourne for the T20 WC marquee clash ALSO READ | T20 World Cup 2022: India vs Pakistan, Live Cricket Streaming: When and where to watch epic face-off? Ahead of the match, MCG pitch curator Michael Salvatore has said that the wicket will remain consistent throughout the course of the game. "T20 wickets are usually really consistent for the whole match. So it should make for a really good game. We have brought it from our wicket nursery which is just outside the ground. It's literally 200 meters outside the ground so we can move and monitor and maintain the wickets all year around. And the wickets were installed three weeks ago," Salvatore said during an interaction with A Sports. "So we have drop-in wickets here at the MCG. So for the cricket season we bring the wickets in and I sit on some sand and bed in nicely. And then once cricket finishes, we have got the football stadium. We have the ability to take them out and put them up in our special week anniversary where we can look after and maintain them," he added. India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B in the Super 12 round, along with Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Netherlands.

'Should make for a...' - MCG pitch curator on nature of surface for India-Pakistan T20 WC clash

<p>Rohit Sharma-led India is set to kick off their campaign in the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2022 edition on Sunday (October 23) as they face Pakistan in their tournament opener. In last year's edition, held in the UAE, Virat Kohli-led India were thrashed by Babar Azam's Pakistan by ten wickets in both sides' Super 12 openers and Men in Blue never recovered as they also lost to New Zealand before winning three games in a row, versus weaker sides, to bow out of the competition without making the semi-finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This time around, there are high hopes from India. Rohit-led India have done very well in T20Is in the calendar year and are entering the tournament as the No. 1 ranked side. Ahead of their face-off versus Pakistan, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar rated India's chances.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One thing for sure. If the Indian team does not win this T20 World Cup it won't be for lack of preparation. Not only have they gone to Australia almost three weeks before their first game of the tournament, they are also playing practice games against good sides that should get them ready for the tournament," Gavaskar opined in his column in the Mid-Day.</p>

<section>
<p>He further asserted, "The old saying, 'if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail' will not apply to this Indian team as, apart from these games in Australia, they also played six T20 matches at home and won four out of those to show that they are tuning in nicely for the big event."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sports-minister-anurag-thakur-gives-blunt-reply-after-pcb-threatens-to-withdraw-from-2023-odi-world-cup-527031"><strong>Sports minister Anurag Thakur gives blunt reply after PCB threatens to withdraw from 2023 ODI World Cup</strong></a></p>

<p>While Gavaskar sounds confident of India's chances at the T20 WC 2022 edition, he also pointed out why they have faltered in previous ICC events. "India's performance in the white ball bilaterals has always been good, be it at home or overseas, but it's in the multilateral events that they have been stumbling. In the past it's been because they have come cold into the event," he added.</p>

<p>India are placed in Pool B in the main draw of the T20 WC, also featuring the Men in Green, Bangladesh, South Africa whereas two teams will join them from the qualifiers.</p>
</section>


Rohit Sharma-led India is set to kick off their campaign in the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2022 edition on Sunday (October 23) as they face Pakistan in their tournament opener.

Rohit Sharma-led India is set to kick off their campaign in the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2022 edition on Sunday (October 23) as they face Pakistan in their tournament opener. In last year's edition, held in the UAE, Virat Kohli-led India were thrashed by Babar Azam's Pakistan by ten wickets in both sides' Super 12 openers and Men in Blue never recovered as they also lost to New Zealand before winning three games in a row, versus weaker sides, to bow out of the competition without making the semi-finals. This time around, there are high hopes from India. Rohit-led India have done very well in T20Is in the calendar year and are entering the tournament as the No. 1 ranked side. Ahead of their face-off versus Pakistan, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar rated India's chances. "One thing for sure. If the Indian team does not win this T20 World Cup it won't be for lack of preparation. Not only have they gone to Australia almost three weeks before their first game of the tournament, they are also playing practice games against good sides that should get them ready for the tournament," Gavaskar opined in his column in the Mid-Day. He further asserted, "The old saying, 'if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail' will not apply to this Indian team as, apart from these games in Australia, they also played six T20 matches at home and won four out of those to show that they are tuning in nicely for the big event." ALSO READ | Sports minister Anurag Thakur gives blunt reply after PCB threatens to withdraw from 2023 ODI World Cup While Gavaskar sounds confident of India's chances at the T20 WC 2022 edition, he also pointed out why they have faltered in previous ICC events. "India's performance in the white ball bilaterals has always been good, be it at home or overseas, but it's in the multilateral events that they have been stumbling. In the past it's been because they have come cold into the event," he added. India are placed in Pool B in the main draw of the T20 WC, also featuring the Men in Green, Bangladesh, South Africa whereas two teams will join them from the qualifiers.

'If they do not win this time...' - Sunil Gavaskar rates India's chances at T20 WC before Pakistan clash

<p>Team India is set to commence their campaign in the Men's T20 World Cup with their opening fixture against Pakistan on Sunday (October 23) at the iconic MCG, Melbourne. After bowing out of the last year's edition, in the UAE, in the Super 12 round, India will look to start on a strong note. Ahead of Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.'s opening game, former Indian captain Kapil Dev has expressed concerns on India's chances of entering the semi-finals of the marquee event in Australia.</p>

<p>Speaking to the press in Lucknow, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil pointed out, "What more do you want in the side other than having all-rounders who could win matches for a side not only in the World Cup but in all other matches or events? A cricketer like Hardik Pandya has been quite useful for India. All-rounders are the key players of any side, and they become the strength of a team. An all-rounder like Hardik gives Rohit Sharma the liberty to make use of the sixth bowler in a match. He is a good batter, bowler and fielder too. Ravindra Jadeja is also a perfect all-rounder for India."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-predicts-semi-finalists-of-t20-world-cup-2022-includes-india-and-pakistan-526482"><strong>Sachin Tendulkar predicts semi-finalists of T20 World Cup 2022, includes India and Pakistan</strong></a></p>

<p>“In T20 cricket, the team winning a match can lose the next... It’s a very difficult to talk about the chances of India winning the World Cup. The issue is can they make it to the top four? And I am concerned about their making it to the top four, only then anything can be said. For me, it’s just 30 % chance of India making it to the top (last) four.”</p>

<p>India will enter the showpiece event Down Under without the likes of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. While Jadeja was ruled out due to a knee injury, Bumrah missed out due to a stress back fracture.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India are placed in Pool B with Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa whereas two more teams will join them from the qualifiers. The other group, i.e. Pool A, comprises Australia, England, New Zealand, Afghanistan and will also see two new additions following the ongoing qualifying round.</p>


Team India is set to commence their campaign in the Men's T20 World Cup with their opening fixture against Pakistan on Sunday (October 23) at the iconic MCG, Melbourne.

Team India is set to commence their campaign in the Men's T20 World Cup with their opening fixture against Pakistan on Sunday (October 23) at the iconic MCG, Melbourne. After bowing out of the last year's edition, in the UAE, in the Super 12 round, India will look to start on a strong note. Ahead of Rohit Sharma & Co.'s opening game, former Indian captain Kapil Dev has expressed concerns on India's chances of entering the semi-finals of the marquee event in Australia. Speaking to the press in Lucknow, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil pointed out, "What more do you want in the side other than having all-rounders who could win matches for a side not only in the World Cup but in all other matches or events? A cricketer like Hardik Pandya has been quite useful for India. All-rounders are the key players of any side, and they become the strength of a team. An all-rounder like Hardik gives Rohit Sharma the liberty to make use of the sixth bowler in a match. He is a good batter, bowler and fielder too. Ravindra Jadeja is also a perfect all-rounder for India." ALSO READ | Sachin Tendulkar predicts semi-finalists of T20 World Cup 2022, includes India and Pakistan “In T20 cricket, the team winning a match can lose the next... It’s a very difficult to talk about the chances of India winning the World Cup. The issue is can they make it to the top four? And I am concerned about their making it to the top four, only then anything can be said. For me, it’s just 30 % chance of India making it to the top (last) four.” India will enter the showpiece event Down Under without the likes of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. While Jadeja was ruled out due to a knee injury, Bumrah missed out due to a stress back fracture. India are placed in Pool B with Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa whereas two more teams will join them from the qualifiers. The other group, i.e. Pool A, comprises Australia, England, New Zealand, Afghanistan and will also see two new additions following the ongoing qualifying round.

T20 World Cup: Kapil Dev 'concerned' with India's chances of making it to top 4 ahead of Pakistan clash

From Sharjah to Centurion: Reliving memorable India vs Pakistan fiery clashes that make the rivalry grand

<p>India and Pakistan will lock horns in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, on August 28. Over the years, both the Asian giants play each other only during ICC or multi-nation tournaments but the buzz and hype around every Indo-Pak clash remains extremely high.</p>

<p>Before Rohit Sharma's Team India and Babar Azam-led Pakistan lock horns in the Asia Cup, where they can meet each other thrice (including the final), former Indian opener Virender Sehwag recalled the two teams' 2003 ODI World Cup clash, held in Centurion.</p>

<p>Back then, the Sourav Ganguly-led Indian team were asked to chase a challenging 274 -- after Saeed Anwar's 101 -- and rode on Sachin Tendulkar's majestic 98, off 75 balls, and crucial knocks from Md Kaif, Rahul Dravid (44 not out) and Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 50. However, Tendulkar had to fall back upon Sehwag to fill in as his runner due to Master Blaster's cramps. Recently, Sehwag revealed what happened when he joined Tendulkar-Rahul Dravid in the middle as the former's runner.</p>

<p>“We knew it was an important game. But Tendulkar was so experienced, he had played so many games against Pakistan.. he knew that he need to be prepared for it. If I have to consider his World Cup knocks, it was his best. I also came to run for him during the game because he was having cramps, and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was abusing him a lot, kept saying something or the other. But he remained focused. He knew it was important for him to stay at the crease. He usually doesn't take a runner, but still he knew that if I come, I will run like he does. There won't be any misunderstanding," Sehwag said on a video posted by&nbsp;<i>Star Sports.</i></p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-zimbabwe-shikhar-dhawan-reacts-on-being-replaced-by-kl-rahul-as-captain-507760"><strong>India tour of Zimbabwe: Shikhar Dhawan reacts to being replaced by KL Rahul as captain</strong></a></p>

<p>Sehwag went onto add, "No matter what series it is (ICC tournament or bilateral), the match between India and Pakistan is always intense. And we will always see fights or incidents taking place between players of both the countries. And I remember there was a statement from Shoaib Akhtar that he will absolutely destroy the top order. I didn't read the statement, neither did Sachin, but Sachin did respond strongly to it in the first over of our innings. He hit 18 runs in that over."</p>


India and Pakistan will lock horns in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, on August 28. Over the years, both the Asian giants play each other only during ICC or multi-nation tournaments but the buzz and hype around every Indo-Pak clash remains extremely high.

India and Pakistan will lock horns in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, on August 28. Over the years, both the Asian giants play each other only during ICC or multi-nation tournaments but the buzz and hype around every Indo-Pak clash remains extremely high. Before Rohit Sharma's Team India and Babar Azam-led Pakistan lock horns in the Asia Cup, where they can meet each other thrice (including the final), former Indian opener Virender Sehwag recalled the two teams' 2003 ODI World Cup clash, held in Centurion. Back then, the Sourav Ganguly-led Indian team were asked to chase a challenging 274 -- after Saeed Anwar's 101 -- and rode on Sachin Tendulkar's majestic 98, off 75 balls, and crucial knocks from Md Kaif, Rahul Dravid (44 not out) and Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 50. However, Tendulkar had to fall back upon Sehwag to fill in as his runner due to Master Blaster's cramps. Recently, Sehwag revealed what happened when he joined Tendulkar-Rahul Dravid in the middle as the former's runner. “We knew it was an important game. But Tendulkar was so experienced, he had played so many games against Pakistan.. he knew that he need to be prepared for it. If I have to consider his World Cup knocks, it was his best. I also came to run for him during the game because he was having cramps, and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was abusing him a lot, kept saying something or the other. But he remained focused. He knew it was important for him to stay at the crease. He usually doesn't take a runner, but still he knew that if I come, I will run like he does. There won't be any misunderstanding," Sehwag said on a video posted by Star Sports. ALSO READ | India tour of Zimbabwe: Shikhar Dhawan reacts to being replaced by KL Rahul as captain Sehwag went onto add, "No matter what series it is (ICC tournament or bilateral), the match between India and Pakistan is always intense. And we will always see fights or incidents taking place between players of both the countries. And I remember there was a statement from Shoaib Akhtar that he will absolutely destroy the top order. I didn't read the statement, neither did Sachin, but Sachin did respond strongly to it in the first over of our innings. He hit 18 runs in that over."

'Shahid Afridi was abusing Sachin Tendulkar a lot' - Sehwag recalls India-Pakistan 2003 World Cup clash

<p>The Virat Kohli-led India didn't get a start they had hoped for in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup as in their first match of the tournament's Super 12 stage, they suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (October 24).&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the match, India were asked to bat first after losing the toss and the Virat's side was off to the worst possible start when Pak's left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-31) thrashed the Indian batting order. Pakistan's bowling department was outstanding as they kept India&nbsp;to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from Kohli.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-is-pakistan-behind-mohammad-shamis-targeted-trolling-after-indias-10-wicket-loss-to-pakistan-424622">T20 World Cup: Is Pakistan behind Mohammad Shami's targeted trolling after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan?</a></strong></p>

<p>In reply to that, Pakistan chased down the target with 13 balls to spare thanks to their opening pair Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's half-centuries. Pakistan registered their first-ever win over arch-rivals at a Twenty20 World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the post-match presentation, Kohli weighed in on the embarrassing loss, as he said that the team "didn't execute properly". He further added, "Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ishan-for-rohit-virat-kohli-snaps-at-reporters-query-after-indias-10-wicket-loss-to-pakistan-423686">Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>Reflecting on Kohli's remark, former cricketer<strong> Ajay Jadeja</strong> said he is "disappointed". During his interaction with Cricbuzz Hindi Live, Jadeja said, "I heard Virat Kohli's statement that day. He said when we lost two wickets, we fell behind in the match against Pakistan. I was disappointed with that."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Explaining it further, the former player said, "When a player like Virat Kohli is out there in the middle, there is no way the match has ended. He had not played even two balls and was thinking like that. So, it shows India's approach."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-imad-wasims-special-message-for-new-zealand-cricket-team-as-he-mentions-the-cancelled-tour-424548">Imad Wasim's 'special message' for New Zealand cricket team as he mentions the cancelled tour</a></strong></p>

<p>India skipper Kohli also said, "We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."&nbsp;</p>


The Virat Kohli-led India didn't get a start they had hoped for in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup as in their first match of the tournament's Super 12 stage, they suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (October 24).

The Virat Kohli-led India didn't get a start they had hoped for in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup as in their first match of the tournament's Super 12 stage, they suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (October 24). During the match, India were asked to bat first after losing the toss and the Virat's side was off to the worst possible start when Pak's left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-31) thrashed the Indian batting order. Pakistan's bowling department was outstanding as they kept India to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from Kohli. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup: Is Pakistan behind Mohammad Shami's targeted trolling after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan? In reply to that, Pakistan chased down the target with 13 balls to spare thanks to their opening pair Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's half-centuries. Pakistan registered their first-ever win over arch-rivals at a Twenty20 World Cup. During the post-match presentation, Kohli weighed in on the embarrassing loss, as he said that the team "didn't execute properly". He further added, "Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start." ALSO READ | Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan Reflecting on Kohli's remark, former cricketer Ajay Jadeja said he is "disappointed". During his interaction with Cricbuzz Hindi Live, Jadeja said, "I heard Virat Kohli's statement that day. He said when we lost two wickets, we fell behind in the match against Pakistan. I was disappointed with that." Explaining it further, the former player said, "When a player like Virat Kohli is out there in the middle, there is no way the match has ended. He had not played even two balls and was thinking like that. So, it shows India's approach." WATCH | Imad Wasim's 'special message' for New Zealand cricket team as he mentions the cancelled tour India skipper Kohli also said, "We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."

T20 WC: Ajay Jadeja 'disappointed' with Kohli's remarks post Pakistan clash, says 'It shows India's approach'

<p>After India lost their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24), India's star pacer Mohammad Shami was subjected to a fierce online attack. It was Men in Blue's first-ever loss to Pakistan in World Cup history.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to Virender Sehwag to Yuzvendra Chahal, past and present Indian cricketers condemned the targetting of Shami's religious identity by social media trolls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, some media reports have highlighted that the troll and online abuses were created and circulated in Pakistan, and they started trending on social media forums instantly. And after probing it, one can find that the majority of tweets were posted&nbsp;by Pakistani handlers.</p>

<p>The question here is, was it orchestrated in Pakistan by a group of people to malign India's image? After it started trending in India - from politicians to cricketers, people in India were condemning the trolls, showing their support to Shami, but did they fall for the trap which appears to be meant to weaken the spirit of sports.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ishan-for-rohit-virat-kohli-snaps-at-reporters-query-after-indias-10-wicket-loss-to-pakistan-423686">Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Here are some screenshots:</strong></p>

<p><img alt="Mohammad Shami" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9bbf6825-3d8e-49da-bb49-e27c1bc63716" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mohammad%20Shami.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="Mohammad Shami" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="de43dafb-b2a9-4297-9207-4475e2a9ec7c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mohammad%20Shami%20%282%29.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="Mohammad Shami" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d7b3fedc-ff02-46e8-9405-286f42a0aca8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mohammad%20Shami%20%283%29.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-imad-wasims-special-message-for-new-zealand-cricket-team-as-he-mentions-the-cancelled-tour-424548">Imad Wasim's 'special message' for New Zealand cricket team as he mentions the cancelled tour</a></strong></p>

<p>During the match, India lost their T20 World Cup opener by 10 wickets with Shami emerging as the most expensive bowler on the night, leaking 43 runs in 3.5 overs. However, it can just be a bad day for him&nbsp;like other team members KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. Shami has been one of India's best fast bowlers in recent times and has performed well over the last five years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mentor-ms-dhoni-and-billion-cheers-jersey-why-indias-t20-world-cup-2021-campaign-will-be-remembered-forever-422991">Mentor MS Dhoni and Billion Cheers Jersey: Why India's T20 World Cup 2021 campaign will be remembered forever</a></strong></p>

<p>Commenting on the match during the post-match presentation, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said,&nbsp;"We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances."</p>

<p>"We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last," he added.&nbsp;</p>


After India lost their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24), India's star pacer Mohammad Shami was subjected to a fierce online attack. It was Men in Blue's first-ever loss to Pakistan in World Cup history.

After India lost their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24), India's star pacer Mohammad Shami was subjected to a fierce online attack. It was Men in Blue's first-ever loss to Pakistan in World Cup history. However, from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to Virender Sehwag to Yuzvendra Chahal, past and present Indian cricketers condemned the targetting of Shami's religious identity by social media trolls. Now, some media reports have highlighted that the troll and online abuses were created and circulated in Pakistan, and they started trending on social media forums instantly. And after probing it, one can find that the majority of tweets were posted by Pakistani handlers. The question here is, was it orchestrated in Pakistan by a group of people to malign India's image? After it started trending in India - from politicians to cricketers, people in India were condemning the trolls, showing their support to Shami, but did they fall for the trap which appears to be meant to weaken the spirit of sports. ALSO READ | Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan Here are some screenshots: WATCH | Imad Wasim's 'special message' for New Zealand cricket team as he mentions the cancelled tour During the match, India lost their T20 World Cup opener by 10 wickets with Shami emerging as the most expensive bowler on the night, leaking 43 runs in 3.5 overs. However, it can just be a bad day for him like other team members KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. Shami has been one of India's best fast bowlers in recent times and has performed well over the last five years. IN PICS | Mentor MS Dhoni and Billion Cheers Jersey: Why India's T20 World Cup 2021 campaign will be remembered forever Commenting on the match during the post-match presentation, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, "We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances." "We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last," he added.

T20 World Cup: Is Pakistan behind Mohammad Shami's targeted trolling after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan?

<p>On the cricket field, India and Pakistan are arch-rivals, but players from both sides have a strong bond off the field, as evidenced by the Men in Green's 10-wicket victory against Virat Kohli's team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 24.</p>

<p>Pakistani cricketers were spotted conversing with former Indian captain MS Dhoni, who is now Team India's consultant, just after the match finished.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pakistan team players having a chat with MS Dhoni after the match ❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSDhoni</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSDhoni</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/rlR2NCUYo9">pic.twitter.com/rlR2NCUYo9</a></p>
— DHONI Trends™ 🏆 (@TrendsDhoni) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrendsDhoni/status/1452331614839652372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Also, despite a devastating setback in Team India's T20 World Cup opener, skipper Virat Kohli remained composed and demonstrated the "Spirit of Cricket" in his post-match interactions with the opposition.</p>

<p>The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a snapshot of Kohli chatting with Rizwan Azam on social media with the message "Spirit of Cricket! #WeHaveWeWill."&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Pakistani players also snapped photographs with Dhoni, who is the first captain in white-ball cricket history to win all three ICC titles.</p>

<p>Several photographs of Dhoni talking with the players were shared on social media.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fanboy moment of Young Pakistan Bowler Shahnawaz Dahani ❤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSDhoni</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvPAK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/Sx4oZS3k4P">pic.twitter.com/Sx4oZS3k4P</a></p>
— Dhoni Army TN™ (@DhoniArmyTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/DhoniArmyTN/status/1452332731942248462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>It was Pakistan's first-ever 10-wicket triumph over any opponent in a T20, while India also suffered the humiliation of losing by such a large margin.<br />
<br />
<strong>Watch | T20 World Cup: Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets, John Buchanan gives insight</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/t20-world-cup-pakistan-beat-india-by-10-wickets-john-buchanan-gives-insight-423684/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Pakistan won their first T20 World Cup match against India since 2007, when India won the first event by defeating Pakistan in the final.</p>

<p>Pakistan took first place in the 2009 edition.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


On the cricket field, India and Pakistan are arch-rivals, but players from both sides have a strong bond off the field, as evidenced by the Men in Green's 10-wicket victory against Virat Kohli's team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 24.

On the cricket field, India and Pakistan are arch-rivals, but players from both sides have a strong bond off the field, as evidenced by the Men in Green's 10-wicket victory against Virat Kohli's team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on October 24. Pakistani cricketers were spotted conversing with former Indian captain MS Dhoni, who is now Team India's consultant, just after the match finished. Pakistan team players having a chat with MS Dhoni after the match ❤️@MSDhoni | #MSDhoni | #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/rlR2NCUYo9 — DHONI Trends™ 🏆 (@TrendsDhoni) October 24, 2021 × Also, despite a devastating setback in Team India's T20 World Cup opener, skipper Virat Kohli remained composed and demonstrated the "Spirit of Cricket" in his post-match interactions with the opposition. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a snapshot of Kohli chatting with Rizwan Azam on social media with the message "Spirit of Cricket! #WeHaveWeWill." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pakistan Cricket (@therealpcb) × Pakistani players also snapped photographs with Dhoni, who is the first captain in white-ball cricket history to win all three ICC titles. Several photographs of Dhoni talking with the players were shared on social media. Fanboy moment of Young Pakistan Bowler Shahnawaz Dahani ❤#TeamIndia | @MSDhoni | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/Sx4oZS3k4P — Dhoni Army TN™ (@DhoniArmyTN) October 24, 2021 × It was Pakistan's first-ever 10-wicket triumph over any opponent in a T20, while India also suffered the humiliation of losing by such a large margin. Watch | T20 World Cup: Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets, John Buchanan gives insight Pakistan won their first T20 World Cup match against India since 2007, when India won the first event by defeating Pakistan in the final. Pakistan took first place in the 2009 edition. (With inputs from agencies)

Heartwarming gesture: Pakistani players chat with Dhoni and Kohli after the match, take selfies

<p>After an outstanding performance by Pakistan's opening pair <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/highlights-babar-rizwan-guide-pakistan-to-historic-maiden-win-against-india-in-world-cup-contest-423513">Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan</a>, Pakistan handed India an embarrassing defeat by 10 wickets in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday (October 24) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Babar and Rizwan hit half-centuries as Pakistan registered their first-ever win over their arch-rivals at a Twenty20 World Cup. Chasing 152 for victory, Babar, who hit 68, and Rizwan, with 79, took apart India's bowlers as Pakistan reached their target with 13 balls to spare.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/credit-where-its-due-pak-outplayed-us-virat-kohli-on-indias-massive-t20-wc-loss-shares-message-for-fans-423677">Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans</a></strong></p>

<p>Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi set up victory — their first over India in six attempts in the tournament — with figures of 3-31 that kept their opponents to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from skipper Virat Kohli.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohli, who never let "outside talks" get under his skin, looked irritated on a reporter's questions. After the match, Kohli was addressing the press when he was asked if young batter Ishan Kishan could have been better and played instead of Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-achieves-staggering-milestone-with-brilliant-fifty-against-pakistan-in-t20-world-cup-2021-clash-423652"><strong>Virat Kohli achieves staggering milestone with brilliant fifty against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2021 clash</strong></a></p>

<p>With a frown on his face, Virat Kohli replied, "It's a very brave question. I played the team that I thought was the best, what is your opinion? Will you drop Rohit Sharma from T20&nbsp;Internationals?"</p>

<p>"Do you know what he did in the last game that he played?" Virat further asked slamming the&nbsp; "unbelievable" question.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Covering his face with his hand in utter shock by the line of questioning, Virat sarcastically said, "If you want controversy, tell me before, so I can answer accordingly."</p>

<p><strong>Watch the video here:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Droping rohit for ishan..??<br />
Look at Virat Reply. 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvPAK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kohli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/fwJtvxOpYc">pic.twitter.com/fwJtvxOpYc</a></p>
— Rahul tanwar (@rahultanwar_09) <a href="https://twitter.com/rahultanwar_09/status/1452335019507306500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>During the post-match presentation,&nbsp;Kohli said,&nbsp;"We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances."</p>

<p>"We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."</p>


After an outstanding performance by Pakistan's opening pair Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan handed India an embarrassing defeat by 10 wickets in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday (October 24) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

After an outstanding performance by Pakistan's opening pair Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan handed India an embarrassing defeat by 10 wickets in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday (October 24) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Babar and Rizwan hit half-centuries as Pakistan registered their first-ever win over their arch-rivals at a Twenty20 World Cup. Chasing 152 for victory, Babar, who hit 68, and Rizwan, with 79, took apart India's bowlers as Pakistan reached their target with 13 balls to spare. ALSO READ | Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi set up victory — their first over India in six attempts in the tournament — with figures of 3-31 that kept their opponents to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from skipper Virat Kohli. Kohli, who never let "outside talks" get under his skin, looked irritated on a reporter's questions. After the match, Kohli was addressing the press when he was asked if young batter Ishan Kishan could have been better and played instead of Rohit Sharma. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli achieves staggering milestone with brilliant fifty against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2021 clash With a frown on his face, Virat Kohli replied, "It's a very brave question. I played the team that I thought was the best, what is your opinion? Will you drop Rohit Sharma from T20 Internationals?" "Do you know what he did in the last game that he played?" Virat further asked slamming the "unbelievable" question. Covering his face with his hand in utter shock by the line of questioning, Virat sarcastically said, "If you want controversy, tell me before, so I can answer accordingly." Watch the video here: Droping rohit for ishan..?? Look at Virat Reply. 😂 #INDvPAK #Kohli #T20WorldCup #TeamIndia #Cricket pic.twitter.com/fwJtvxOpYc — Rahul tanwar (@rahultanwar_09) October 24, 2021 × During the post-match presentation, Kohli said, "We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances." "We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."

Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan

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<p>Pakistan defeated Virat Kohli-led team India as captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit half-centuries to inspire their side for a stunning win in a World Cup showdown for the first time ever with a 10-wicket romp in a Super 12 blockbuster at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday. The loss was also India's first 10-wicket defeat in T20 cricket.</p>

<p>Babar (68) and Rizwan (79) helped Pakistan to take apart India's bowlers as they reached their target with 13 balls to spare in Dubai while chasing 152 for victory. Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi set up victory — their first over India in six attempts in the tournament — with figures of 3-31 that kept their opponents to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from skipper Virat Kohli.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ishan-for-rohit-virat-kohli-snaps-at-reporters-query-after-indias-10-wicket-loss-to-pakistan-423686">Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>During an exclusive chat with&nbsp;<strong>WION's Digvijay Singh Deo</strong>, the two-time World Cup-winning coach John Buchanan opened up on India vs Pakistan clash. He said, "It's going to hurt, that's for sure. It's hammering. That's just a real comprehensive loss against a fantastic Pakistan."</p>

<p>"However, your first game in the tournament is always a little bit tricky. You are just not quite settled as a team, you are just not sure about a range of things. It's always nice to get the first game underway and ideally get away with a win but in this case, India haven't"&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/credit-where-its-due-pak-outplayed-us-virat-kohli-on-indias-massive-t20-wc-loss-shares-message-for-fans-423677">Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans</a></strong></p>

<p>"I don't think there will be of long-term concern for India, I think it reflects on a range of this 'can I change the bowling line-up' also the batting. But I think there won't be too many changes on India's side. One of these games tends to reflect relatively quickly and just go back to what you were doing in the lead-up and in individual performance and prepare for the next game".</p>

<p><strong>Watch the full&nbsp;interview here:</strong></p>

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<p>India were completely outplayed as sent into bat, India were off to the worst possible start as they lost both their prolific openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul within three overs with just six runs on the board.</p>

<p>Kohli (57) and Pant (39) then joined forces to add 53 runs in quick time before the latter was caught out by leg-spinner Shadab Khan (1/22 in four overs) off his own bowling in the 13th over.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-skipper-babar-azam-says-t20-world-cup-wont-be-easier-just-because-pakistan-defeated-india-423689">Pakistan skipper Babar Azam says T20 World Cup won't be easier just because Pakistan defeated India</a></strong></p>

<p>During the post-match presentation, Indian skipper Kohli said, "We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances."</p>

<p>"We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."</p>


Pakistan defeated Virat Kohli-led team India as captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit half-centuries to inspire their side for a stunning win in a World Cup showdown for the first time ever with a 10-wicket romp in a Super 12 blockbuster at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday.

Pakistan defeated Virat Kohli-led team India as captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit half-centuries to inspire their side for a stunning win in a World Cup showdown for the first time ever with a 10-wicket romp in a Super 12 blockbuster at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday. The loss was also India's first 10-wicket defeat in T20 cricket. Babar (68) and Rizwan (79) helped Pakistan to take apart India's bowlers as they reached their target with 13 balls to spare in Dubai while chasing 152 for victory. Left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi set up victory — their first over India in six attempts in the tournament — with figures of 3-31 that kept their opponents to 151-7 despite a valiant 57 from skipper Virat Kohli. ALSO READ | Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan During an exclusive chat with WION's Digvijay Singh Deo, the two-time World Cup-winning coach John Buchanan opened up on India vs Pakistan clash. He said, "It's going to hurt, that's for sure. It's hammering. That's just a real comprehensive loss against a fantastic Pakistan." "However, your first game in the tournament is always a little bit tricky. You are just not quite settled as a team, you are just not sure about a range of things. It's always nice to get the first game underway and ideally get away with a win but in this case, India haven't" ALSO READ | Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans "I don't think there will be of long-term concern for India, I think it reflects on a range of this 'can I change the bowling line-up' also the batting. But I think there won't be too many changes on India's side. One of these games tends to reflect relatively quickly and just go back to what you were doing in the lead-up and in individual performance and prepare for the next game". Watch the full interview here: × India were completely outplayed as sent into bat, India were off to the worst possible start as they lost both their prolific openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul within three overs with just six runs on the board. Kohli (57) and Pant (39) then joined forces to add 53 runs in quick time before the latter was caught out by leg-spinner Shadab Khan (1/22 in four overs) off his own bowling in the 13th over. ALSO READ | Pakistan skipper Babar Azam says T20 World Cup won't be easier just because Pakistan defeated India During the post-match presentation, Indian skipper Kohli said, "We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances." "We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."

T20 World Cup: Exclusive! How India can bounce back? John Buchanan's take on Indo-Pak match

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<p>Pakistan skipper Babar Azam led his team from the front as his side defeated Virat Kohli-led India in a World Cup showdown for the first time ever with a 10-wicket triumph in a Super 12 blockbuster at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Babar admitted that Pakistan might have won the match but the win doesn't make the ongoing T20 World Cup journey easier for his side. During the match, Mohammad Rizwan (79) and Babar (68) put on a remarkable show to hand their team a historic win on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ishan-for-rohit-virat-kohli-snaps-at-reporters-query-after-indias-10-wicket-loss-to-pakistan-423686">Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>"It won't get easier just because we beat India. We will take the confidence, but we're taking it one match at a time, and there's a long way to go in the tournament. We prepared well, and just kept the history out of our mind," Babar told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chasing 152 to win, Pakistan reached their target with 13 balls to spare. "We needed quality practice, and warm-up matches, and even our domestic tournament and those games gave us a lot of confidence," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We, the openers, kept it simple and built a partnership and because the wicket was getting better so we just wanted to keep batting till the end, which we did," he added. Rizwan and Babar didn't give any chance to India bowlers to come on top as the two batsmen dominated the proceedings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/credit-where-its-due-pak-outplayed-us-virat-kohli-on-indias-massive-t20-wc-loss-shares-message-for-fans-423677">Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans</a></strong></p>

<p>On the other hand, Indian skipper Virat Kohli: "We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances."</p>

<p>"We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last."</p>

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<p>Before this game, Pakistan had failed to beat India in the history of the men's World Cup but the Babar-led side came out with flying colours on Sunday on the back of some sensational performance after Shaheen Shah Afridi's show with the ball.&nbsp;</p>


Pakistan skipper Babar Azam led his team from the front as his side defeated Virat Kohli-led India in a World Cup showdown for the first time ever with a 10-wicket triumph in a Super 12 blockbuster at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam led his team from the front as his side defeated Virat Kohli-led India in a World Cup showdown for the first time ever with a 10-wicket triumph in a Super 12 blockbuster at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, Babar admitted that Pakistan might have won the match but the win doesn't make the ongoing T20 World Cup journey easier for his side. During the match, Mohammad Rizwan (79) and Babar (68) put on a remarkable show to hand their team a historic win on Sunday. ALSO READ | Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan "It won't get easier just because we beat India. We will take the confidence, but we're taking it one match at a time, and there's a long way to go in the tournament. We prepared well, and just kept the history out of our mind," Babar told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match. Chasing 152 to win, Pakistan reached their target with 13 balls to spare. "We needed quality practice, and warm-up matches, and even our domestic tournament and those games gave us a lot of confidence," he added. "We, the openers, kept it simple and built a partnership and because the wicket was getting better so we just wanted to keep batting till the end, which we did," he added. Rizwan and Babar didn't give any chance to India bowlers to come on top as the two batsmen dominated the proceedings. ALSO READ | Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans On the other hand, Indian skipper Virat Kohli: "We didn't execute properly. Credit where it's due and Pakistan outplayed us today. They started brilliantly with the ball, and 3 wickets for 20 runs was not a good start. We needed wickets early but with the bat they gave us absolutely no chances." "We could make the argument of getting in another slower bowler, but it's important to stay composed and understand our strengths, because with the dew the slower bowlers couldn't be effective either. This is just the first game of the tournament, not the last." × Before this game, Pakistan had failed to beat India in the history of the men's World Cup but the Babar-led side came out with flying colours on Sunday on the back of some sensational performance after Shaheen Shah Afridi's show with the ball.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam says T20 World Cup won't be easier just because Pakistan defeated India

<p>In a massive blow to India's T20 World Cup plans, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya injured his shoulder while batting during the T20 World Cup game against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24). In the second innings, Ishan Kishan came in as a substitute fielder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the extent of Hardik's injury couldn't be confirmed but media reports stated that Pandya has been taken for precautionary scans to check whether he has suffered any serious injury. "Hardik Pandya was hit on his right shoulder while batting. He has now gone for scans," PTI reported citing a BCCI's media team said.</p>

<p>Pakistan won the toss and asked India to bat first, the Virat Kohli &amp; Co. were off to a poor start as they lost both their prolific openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul within three overs with just six runs on the board. Kohli's half-century helped India recover from a disastrous start to post a challenging 151 for seven.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ishan-for-rohit-virat-kohli-snaps-at-reporters-query-after-indias-10-wicket-loss-to-pakistan-423686">Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>In reply to that, thanks to a stunning batting performance of the opening pair (Babar (68) and Rizwan (79)), the opponents reached the target with 13 balls to spare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the match, Hardik had mentioned that he won't bowl for in India's opening fixture against Pakistan but revealed his plans to go further in the tournament. "The back is fine, it was jittery, but I won't be bowling for now. I want to be able to bowl eventually, closer to the knockouts. The professionals and I both have to take the call about when I can have a bowl," Pandya told the broadcasters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/credit-where-its-due-pak-outplayed-us-virat-kohli-on-indias-massive-t20-wc-loss-shares-message-for-fans-423677">Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans</a></strong></p>

<p>Hardik will have enough time to recover in case the injury is not serious as India will play their next game against New Zealand on October 31. As a batter, Hardik scored 11 runs after coming in at the death as his role is that of a finisher but over the past year and a half, he hasn't won too many matches save a couple of T20s in Australia and one game in IPL.</p>

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In a massive blow to India's T20 World Cup plans, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya injured his shoulder while batting during the T20 World Cup game against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24).

In a massive blow to India's T20 World Cup plans, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya injured his shoulder while batting during the T20 World Cup game against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24). In the second innings, Ishan Kishan came in as a substitute fielder. However, the extent of Hardik's injury couldn't be confirmed but media reports stated that Pandya has been taken for precautionary scans to check whether he has suffered any serious injury. "Hardik Pandya was hit on his right shoulder while batting. He has now gone for scans," PTI reported citing a BCCI's media team said. Pakistan won the toss and asked India to bat first, the Virat Kohli & Co. were off to a poor start as they lost both their prolific openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul within three overs with just six runs on the board. Kohli's half-century helped India recover from a disastrous start to post a challenging 151 for seven. ALSO READ | Watch: Ishan for Rohit? Virat Kohli snaps at reporter's query after India's 10-wicket loss to Pakistan In reply to that, thanks to a stunning batting performance of the opening pair (Babar (68) and Rizwan (79)), the opponents reached the target with 13 balls to spare. Ahead of the match, Hardik had mentioned that he won't bowl for in India's opening fixture against Pakistan but revealed his plans to go further in the tournament. "The back is fine, it was jittery, but I won't be bowling for now. I want to be able to bowl eventually, closer to the knockouts. The professionals and I both have to take the call about when I can have a bowl," Pandya told the broadcasters. ALSO READ | Credit where it's due, PAK outplayed us: Virat Kohli on India's massive T20 WC loss, shares message for fans Hardik will have enough time to recover in case the injury is not serious as India will play their next game against New Zealand on October 31. As a batter, Hardik scored 11 runs after coming in at the death as his role is that of a finisher but over the past year and a half, he hasn't won too many matches save a couple of T20s in Australia and one game in IPL. ×

T20 WC: India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya injures shoulder while batting, sent for precautionary scans