World T20: With another double header in Oman today, Bazid Khan shares predictions for semis
Oct 19, 2021: Former Pakistan cricketer and commentator Bazid Khan says India and Pakistan will be two of the four teams that will qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In a video uploaded by the ICC to his official YouTube account, Bazid shared his insights into why the two teams would advance to the last four stages of the tournament. “My reason for choosing Pakistan in the semi-finals is that Pakistan plays the best T20 cricket in the UAE,” he said.
“The conditions in the UAE are very good for them. Here, don’t expect 200 vs. 200 games,” he added.
Khan said that in a game where each side scores an average of 160-160, Pakistan “plays its best cricket”. “His bowlers also know how to bowl exceptionally well with a bowling cutter in the UAE and spinners do stump-to-stump bowling. They have done it all,” he noted.
Bazid said matches in the UAE are not usually high-scoring, so the power-hitting element will also be eliminated. He then said that the reason why India qualified for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup was that like Pakistan, India does not like high scoring games.
According to Khan, the other two semi-finalists will be West Indies who are two time world champions and England.
He said that England is a strong contender for the World Cup because the team members know how to win in any situation. “Conditions in the UAE will be a bit tough for them, but in my opinion, they will master them and definitely qualify for the semi-finals,” he added.
He said the West Indies would also qualify for the T20 World Cup, adding that they were a “dynamic team” with a lot of power hitters who could change the game in two to three overs.
In his final assessment he says the two teams that play the final will be Pakistan and the West Indies, adding that the former will win the trophy while the latter will finish as runners-up.
Pakistan’s opening match of the tournament is against India and will be played at 7pm on Sunday, October 24.
Meanwhile, sources close to the matter say the Pakistan team playing the opening match against India will include; Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali, along with bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Ali and Haris Rauf. With Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim being favoured by the team management to be included as all rounders.
Yesterday,the Green shirts secured a a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies (who won the toss) in the warm up match and batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam seemed in form with an impressive 46 and 50, respectively.
West Indian Rampaul had sent Mohammad Rizwan packing early at 13, while Mohammad Hafeez, who went for a duck after being bowled out by Hayden Walsh who later took down Babar Azam after his 50.
The action continues today with Scotland set to play against Papua New Guinea at 03:00 pm PST at Al Amerat Cricket Ground.
Scotland played its first match against Bangladesh on the opening day of the T20 World Cup where the Scottish team defeated the Tigers by 6 runs. Chris Greaves was named player of the match who helped Scotland lift up the score to 140-9 and then taking two wickets for 19 runs.
The second contest of the day will see co hosts Oman play against Bangladesh at 07:00 pm PST at Al-Amerat Cricket Stadium.
Prior to this, Oman had played one match in the group stage against Papua New Guinea at the start of the contests and won by 10 wickets with the opening batsmen Jatinde Singh and Aqib Ilyas finishing the score with an opening partnership of 131 unbeaten.
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