Uncertainty shrouds Naseem Shah's availability for Pakistan's World Cup opening matches
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will be India's home ground during the group stage, featuring matches against Ireland and the hosts USA.
Pakistan needs to win all its matches and expect Australia to falter in at least two of their remaining four games.
Australia opener Travis head on Wednesday toppled India's Suryakumar Yadav as the number one batter in the latest ICC T20 rankings.
Shaheen Afridi brushes aside rumours of discontent within Pakistan team
Pakistan captain Babar Azam was named the International Cricket Council's ODI Cricketer of the Year following his exploits in 2021 when he scored 405 runs in six games at an average of 67.50.
Fast bowling greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board for sharing clips of the dressing room on social media.
Babar Azam hit his maiden century while spinner Mohammad Nawaz grabbed four wickets as Pakistan thrashed the West Indies by 111 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first day-night international on Friday. Azam's rapid-fire 139-ball 120 helped Pakistan post a challenging 284-9 in a match reduced to 49 overs a side due to a 70-minute floodlight failure at Sharjah Stadium in the UAE. West Indies -- set 287 to win -- never got close and folded at 175 in 38.4 overs.
India ended an 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought, beating South Africa by seven runs to claim the ICC T20 World Cup title for the second time on June 29 last year, in Barbados.
Who will win these contests on Saturday?
Babar Azam scored an impressive hundred while Shoaib Malik smashed a quickfire half century to help Pakistan thump Sri Lanka by 83 runs in the first one-day international in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan's unpredictability will once again be their big strength at the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan's bowlers had gone for plenty against India and they will look to comeback strongly in what is a virtual semi-final against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan's former cricket star prime minister, Imran Khan, offered consolation after Babar Azam's high-flying side suffered an exit from the Twenty20 World Cup with a heart-breaking defeat to Australia in the semi-finals.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday held a review meeting of their woeful Asia Cup show in the wake of their World Cup squad announcement.
Most of the Pakistani players, who were down with viral fever, after their arrival in Bengaluru have recovered though some are still under medical observation.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets as Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for 274 on the second day of their rain-hit second Test at Rawalpindi
Pakistan, co-hosts of the Asia Cup, will take on Nepal in the tournament opener in Multan on Wednesday and will be in high spirits after their whitewash of Afghanistan.
Australia speedster Spencer Johnson claimed a maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket as the hosts edged out Pakistan by 13 runs in the second Twenty20 International on Saturday
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday said that South African Gary Kirsten ended his tenure as Pakistan white-ball head coach as he made "some breaches" of his contract with the Board.
'Our middle order stepped up in the last two matches'
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI against Pakistan on Sunday?
Images from the ICC Men's ODI World Cup match between England and Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
'We tried to be positive and play our shots. The team needed this knock, so I tried to bat for as long as I could.'
Azam scooped the honour following a number of thrilling batting displays in Pakistan's multi-format series against Australia.
Pakistan's first warm-up match ahead of the World Cup will be played behind closed doors in Hyderabad for security reasons.
When the discussion veered towards Kohli, Babar was effusive in his praise.
'As public figures we are entitled to receive all kinds of feedback. They are entitled to support or criticise us. Nevertheless, when it comes to my parent or family. I will not hesitate to respond accordingly. It is important to show respect to people and their families, irrespective of their professions.'
The Test side has failed to make an impact at home after international cricket returned to the country in 2019
Yadav is the best-placed Indian with 805 points in the batting list headed by Pakistan's Babar Azam.
The Indian cricket team warmed up at a training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
A severe discord is brewing between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the players who are unhappy at not having their NOCs extended for league appearances through this month.
Pakistan retain playing XI for clash against India
Babar Azam's side had been in charge after claiming a handy first-innings lead of 149 in the first match of the two-Test series.
Pakistan's marquee October 15 clash against arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad might be huge from perspective of fans on both sides of the border but it is certainly not the "be all and end all" from cricketing point of view.
The mutual respect shone through as they exchanged greetings and shared a warm hug on the field.
Virat Kohli anchored a tricky chase with an unbeaten 100.
'I have a deep affection for Indian cricket. If someone asked me to come back, I wouldn't say no.'
Game seven of the Super 12 competition in the T20 World Cup will see Pakistan take on the New Zealand at the Sharjah cricket stadium beginning 1930 this evening.
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