The Pakistan cricket team is set to face Ireland in their final match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be played at Lauderhill on Sunday, June 16. Both teams will be looking to end their campaign on a high note after being eliminated early from the tournament. Ireland’s last fixture against the United States was washed out due to rain at the same venue, sealing their fate.
Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, has managed just one win in three games in the 9th edition of the T20 World Cup. They convincingly defeated Canada by seven wickets in their last match but required Ireland to beat the USA in the last match to keep their hopes alive for the Super 8 qualification.
The upcoming match is a Group A encounter and is scheduled to take place at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida. The game will start at 08:00 PM IST (10:30 PM Local Time) and will be broadcast live on Star Sports, with streaming available on Hotstar’s website and app.
Looking at the team composition, Pakistan will rely on their experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who serves as the vice-captain. The batting lineup is bolstered by the presence of players like Paul Stirling, Babar Azam (the captain), Harry Tector, and Fakhar Zaman. All-rounders such as Mark Adair, Shadab Khan, and Gareth Delany will play crucial roles in both batting and bowling departments.
In the bowling department, Pakistan will depend on the services of pacers Joshua Little, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah. Shaheen Afridi has been under the scanner for his performances, managing to take just two wickets in three innings in this World Cup. However, he showcased his bowling prowess in the recent bilateral series against Ireland, where he claimed seven wickets in three T20Is and won the Player of the Match award.
Babar Azam, the top-ranked Pakistan batter, has faced criticism for his traditional approach in this tournament but has still been able to score runs consistently.
. Babar accumulated 90 runs in three innings during this World Cup and was the leading run-scorer in the bilateral series against Ireland last month.
Expected Playing XI for Pakistan:
– Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
– Saim Ayub
– Babar Azam (c)
– Fakhar Zaman
– Usman Khan
– Shadab Khan
– Imad Wasim
– Shaheen Afridi
– Naseem Shah
– Haris Rauf
– Mohammad Amir
As for Ireland, their lineup consists of players who have shown glimpses of brilliance but haven’t managed to maintain consistency throughout the tournament. Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling, the captain, will be key players at the top of the order. Lorcan Tucker will don the gloves as the wicketkeeper, while Harry Tector and Curtis Campher add depth to the middle order. George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, and Mark Adair will be crucial in the all-rounders’ role, providing both batting and bowling options.
Ireland’s bowling lineup includes Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little, and Craig Young. Joshua Little has been one of the standout performers for Ireland with his consistent wicket-taking abilities.
Expected Playing XI for Ireland:
– Andrew Balbirnie
– Paul Stirling (c)
– Lorcan Tucker (wk)
– Harry Tector
– Curtis Campher
– George Dockrell
– Gareth Delany
– Mark Adair
– Barry McCarthy
– Joshua Little
– Craig Young
In related news, Pakistan’s all-rounder, Imad Wasim, expressed his thoughts on the team’s performance in the tournament. He emphasized the need for the team to overcome the fear of failure to achieve better results. “We need to get rid of the fear of failure to push beyond our limits,” Imad stated.
Team India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour has also commented on the ongoing World Cup, mentioning that there are no concerns about Virat Kohli’s form, despite a recent slump. Rathour also opened up about the return of Shubman Gill and Avesh Khan to the team, implying strategic planning behind their inclusion.
This match between Pakistan and Ireland promises to be a riveting contest as both teams aim to salvage pride and end their T20 World Cup campaigns on a positive note. Cricket fans can expect a thrilling encounter at Lauderhill with both teams eager to prove themselves on the world stage.
