T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan set to face India in make-or-break showdown today

In what is hailed as the mother of all clashes in the cricketing world, Pakistan and India are poised to face off today in their first encounter of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

This match, among the most anticipated events globally, will see both teams reigniting their historic rivalry at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York at 7:30 pm PST.

Led by skipper Babar Azam, the Men in Green are in dire need of a win against India following their unexpected loss against the United States in the tournament's inaugural match.

On the other hand, India, led by Rohit Sharma, could secure a spot in the Super 8 with a victory over the Green Shirts, having already defeated Ireland in their opening encounter.

Having faced each other seven times in T20 World Cups, India holds the upper hand with five victories, while Pakistan has won only one match. One T20I between the two resulted in a tie, with India clinching victory via a bowl out.

Notably, Pakistan's sole T20 World Cup victory against India occurred in 2021 when Babar Azam's side faced Virat Kohli's Men in Blue.

Ahead of this crucial match, Pakistan received a significant boost with all-rounder Imad Wasim declared fit to play. Wasim, who missed Pakistan's opening game against the US due to a rib injury, has been deemed ready for action by coach Gary Kirsten.

Expressing determination to bounce back from the demoralizing defeat against the USA, Kirsten emphasized the importance of teamwork and making good decisions on the field.

India's captain, Sharma, acknowledged the challenges posed by the variable bounce on the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium pitch. Despite this, he stressed the importance of focusing on playing good cricket and making informed decisions, backed by the team's experience and preparation.

Match Timings:

Local: 10:30 am
GMT: 2:30 pm
PST: 7:30 pm
IST: 8:00 pm

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.