Big India-Pakistan WT20 clash scheduled on October 24

India and Pakistan will face each other in the upcoming World T20 on October 24 in Dubai, ANI reported citing an unnamed source. "Yes, the arch-rivals will clash on October 24,” ANI quoted the source as saying.

India and Pakistan haven’t played each other in any bilateral series for over a decade now but have locked horns in the ICC tournaments. The two teams last met each other during the World Cup 2019 clash. The Men in Blue won this particular encounter. India have never suffered a defeat against Pakistan in a World Cup match.  

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had announced the groups for the tournament last month. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are in Group 2 alongside New Zealand and Afghanistan. Two other teams that will join this group would be two other qualifiers from Round 1.

Group one comprises the defending champions West Indies along with Australia, England and South Africa and two other qualifiers. The competition is slated to be played from October 17 to November 14 later this year. 

"The groups, selected on the basis of team rankings as of 20 March 2021, see defending champions the West Indies pooled along with former champions England, Australia and South Africa in Group 1 of the Super 12s, with two qualifiers from Round 1 joining them," the ICC said in a statement earlier. 


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Rain plays spoilsport in Bravo’s last international match on home soil, Pakistan take series 1-0

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Birmingham Phoenix vs Oval Invincibles: Where to watch Live, Probable XI, Fantasy XI details

The Birmingham Phoenix, having won two and lost two out of their four games are sitting pretty on the fourth position in the points table. While their both wins have come in home games, their losses were recorded away. Therefore they would be at an advantage when they welcome Oval Invincibles at Edgbaston on Wednesday, August 04. However, Oval is also coming on the back of a great win against Wesh Fire at home. Out of their three games, they have lost just once and that was an away game. Their other away game in the London Derby was washed out. Moeen Ali’s men would hence fancy to seize up Sam Billing’s side and win this contest to move ahead in the table. But will they be able to do it? Only time will tell. Birmingham Phoenix vs Oval Invincibles: Match Details Match Number- 18 Date and Time: 04 August, 2021, 11:00 pm IST, 06:30 pm Local, 05:30pm GMT Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham Live Stream: Fancode Pitch Report The pitch at Esdgabastobn has proved to be a true wicket with a lot of runs on offer and if bowled wisely, wickets are up for grab as well. Hence, a nice game is at hand in Birmingham if the weather permits. Weather Forecast According to BBC Weather, Edgbaston is likely to have sunny intervals and light winds, perfect weather for cricket. The temperatures would also remain in the lower twenties or below twenty range, thus providing a good atmosphere for the crowds to enjoy the game. Birmingham Phoenix Probable XI Finn Allen, Will Smeed, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali (c), Miles Hammond, Chris Benjamin (wk), Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tom Helm, Patrick Brown, Imran Tahir Oval Invincibles Probable XI Jason Roy, Will Jacks, Sunil Narine, Colin Ingram, Jordan Clark, Sam Billings (c & wk), Laurie Evans, Tom Curran, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reece Topley, Saqib Mahmood Fantasy XI Finn Allen, Jason Roy, Sam Billings (wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Laurie Evans, Miles Hammond, Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tom Curran, Saqib Mahmood Captain Moeen Ali Vice-Captain Sam Billings

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BAN vs AUS | 2nd T20I: Tigers look to carry momentum as Aussie search for survival skills in Dhaka

After the historic first win against Australia in T20Is, Mahmudullah’s comments that it was just a match which is over now and the team is not over the top, are reasons enough that Bangladesh have a larger target in sight, which is to win their first-ever bilateral series against Australia. To fulfil that target, the Ti8gers need to improve a lot of things and batting is a major part of it. A slow start to the innings is a problem that Bangladesh must address in batting as that slow start is causing problems while finishing. Also, the use of Nur-Ul-Hasan and Shamim Patwary is crucial as they are clean hitters of the ball and must be told about their roles clearly in the side. On the order hand, Australia, after suffering defeat in the T20I series against West Indies would look to avoid back to back humbling. They must also be aware that if they don’t win this game, they would get into a dire situation of ‘Do or Die’ for the third game, which is never an ideal one. Thus to avoid that situation, victory is the only way out for the Aussie. The batting order, if need be, must be changed and the likes of Ben McDermott and Dan Christian could be opted for ahead of Moises Henriques and Ashton Turner. Bangladesh vs Australia: Match Details Match Number- 02 Date and Time: 04 August, 2021, 05:30 pm IST, 06:00 pm Local, 12:00pm GMT Venue: Sher-E-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka Live Stream: Fancode Pitch Report As predicted for the first game, the wicket was really low and slow and along with the high humidity and muggy weather, the ball was grouping and slower balls released from the back of the hand by pacers and flights ones by spinners did wonders for both the team. A similar wicket is expected for this game as well. Weather Forecast The Dhaka weather this time of the year is unpredictable. There is around a 40% chance of precipitation in Dhaka on August o4 at the time of the match and mostly the sky would remain cloudy, meaning the same muggy weather as was present during the first game. Team News Bangladesh No change is expected in Bangladesh XI as all the players have done exceedingly well in the first game in one department or the other. Probable XI Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mahmudullah (c), Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed Australia Since Henriques has failed against spinners in the entire ODI series in West Indies and hasn’t had a good start over here in Bangladesh, Australia could take a chance with Dan Christian and his long levers at the death and his ability to bowl cutters. Probable XI Josh Philippe, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Dan Christian, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood Fantasy XI Mohammad Naim, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Marsh, Shakib Al Hasan, Matthew Wade, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed Captain Shakib Al Hasan Vice-Captain Mitchell Marsh

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Bangladesh defend their lowest ever score to register their first T20I win over Australia

It was a historic day in Bangladesh cricket history as they defeated Australia for the first time ever in T20Is. The icing on the cake was the fact that they defended their lowest ever total in T20Is to achieve this feat. The Tigers were able to defend 131 as they bowled out Aussies for a meagre 108 in the 20 overs, winning the first of the five T20Is by a huge margin of 23 runs. This is also the first-ever bilateral T20I series taking place between the two nations. Chasing a modest total of 131, Australia got off to the worst possible start as Mahedi Hasanbowled Alex Carey on the very first ball of the innings. From there on the tone was set by the team in Green and Red as they kept chipping away on the Aussie wickets. By the end of the powerplay, the team in yellow were struggling at 28/3, still requiring 104 from 84 balls. But there was still belief as Mitchell Marsh, who has been in a good form was still at the crease along with skipper Matthew Wade. But the run-rate pressure got to Wade and he was caught at short fine leg by Mustafizur Rahman off the bowling off Nasum Ahmed, who went onto pick four wickets in the game and bag Mna of the Match Award as well. With the partners getting out one by one, Marsh couldn’t hold the fort for long either as he was caught by Shorifukl Islam and became Nasuim’s fourth scalp. After that, it was all formalities as Mustafiz knocked Starc’s stumps on the very last ball of the innings to get Australia bowled out in 20 overs. Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, Australia sent Bangladesh in to bat first. On a low and slow track, Shakib Al Hasan batted with caution and scored a 33 ball 36 to take Bangladesh to a position from where they could accelerate. However, he got outright at the beginning of the death overs and it was Afiuf Hossain with his 17 balls 23 that got the Tigers to 131 at the end of 20 overs. For Australia, Hazlewood took three wickets. The two teams would now lock horns once again on Wednesday, August 04 in the second game of the series. Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh skipper was excited about the win, He said that while coming into the field they had decided to give it their all in the field and with the ball to be able to have any chance of defending that total. He wants his players to keep the hunger for wins going. “They are a very good side and we need to tick the boxes we failed today. The hunger needs to be there to win every game for Bangladesh. I am not over the top at the moment, it was a match and it is gone, looking forward to tomorrow's game,” said Mahmudullah at the post-match presentation. Wade on the other hand was disappointed with the team’s batting effort but lauded the bowers for restricting Bangladesh to such a low score. “I thought the bowlers did a terrific job to restrict them to 130. But having lost 3 for 10, I and Marsh tried to resurrect the innings but unfortunately, we couldn't do that,” said Wade.