Indian batter Abhishek Sharma and bowler Varun Chakaravarthy retained their career-best number two positions in the latest ICC T20I rankings.
Aiming for their second Cricket World Cup title, Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam and are armed with a strong batting unit that includes Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Mohammed Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Salman Agha.
Rizwan's unbeaten half-century not only helped Pakistan chase down a modest target of 107 but also saw him equal Rohit Sharma's record for most fifties by a T20I opener
According to sources aware of developments in the Board, a few players are contemplating if they should travel to New Zealand.
Mohammed Rizwan said that the win is a special moment for him and lauded his bowlers for their performances.
Images from the T20 World Cup Group A match between India and Pakistan in New York on Sunday.
The Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan was called off due to persistent rain in Pallekele on Saturday.
White-ball specialist Rauf will return to Pakistan colours after incurring the wrath of the nation's cricket board for opting out of the ongoing three-Test series against Australia.
Hafeez said the board would factor in a players' workload ahead of next year's T20 World Cup before giving him a 'No Objection Certificate'(NOC) to take part in one of the growing number of lucrative franchise leagues around the world.
Australia's second-string pace attack produced a first-rate display to sink Pakistan with a comprehensive 29-run win in the weather-truncated first T20 International on Thursday.
Images from the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and Canada, in New York, on Tuesday.
An injury-hit Pakistan will have the tough task of taming a high-spirited Sri Lanka when they lock horns in a virtual semi-final match in the Asia Cup 2023 match on Thursday.
'Unfortunately, we tend to crack under pressure and lose close matches as we have seen in recent games.'
Pakistan's ODI series victory in Australia showcased the raw pace and skill of their fast bowling attack, spearheaded by Haris Rauf.
Mark Chapman scored 132 and Daryl Mitchell 76 in a 199-run partnership as New Zealand amassed 344 for 9 and went on to beat Pakistan by 73 runs in the first One-Day International at Napier on Saturday.
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
Pakistan are already depleted in attack, with injured quick Naseem Shah sidelined and Haris Rauf having opted out of the series to play in Australia's T20 Big Bash League.
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.
Pak pace trio a far more potent attack on flat wickets: Dinesh Karthik
Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam was conspicuous by his absence from the team's training and there was no clarity on his availability for the Champions Trophy clash against India in Dubai on Sunday, even as the country's cricket board chief Mohsin Naqvi urged the side to win "at any cost".
Former captain Shahid Afridi is confident that Pakistan will again reach the final of the T20 World Cup, but expressed apprehension about the batters' sluggish strike rate in the middle overs.
Matthew Hayden wants India skipper Rohit Sharma to negotiate Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi's first three overs with "caution".
'Pakistan can beat any team on any given day'
A disappointed Pakistan captain Babar Azam refused to blame the umpires despite being on the wrong side of a DRS review which proved decisive in his team's narrow one-wicket loss to South Africa.
India will be accorded a tough welcome to Australia as the Optus Stadium pitch for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been prepared to offer "good bounce and pace"
Shaheen and fellow quick Naseem Shah led the way, picking up three wickets apiece during a showcase of swing and pace, which accounted for Jake Fraser-McGurk (seven) and Aaron Hardie (12) in the first powerplay.
Fans from both countries came out in their numbers and even two short spells of rain couldn't dampen their spirit as they cheered for their teams on a day that saw Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya score quick wickets while Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf took a bulk of the Indian wickets...
It was also reported that evidence related to statements made by YouTubers and former cricketers is being collected by the Pakistan Cricket Board's legal department.
Babar Azam and five other players will prolong their stay in the United States
Babri has in the past also worked with some players helping them understand how to handle pressure situations and get through bad performances and personal issues.
The all-star team announced by the ICC features four players from Sri Lanka, three each from Pakistan and Afghanistan and one from the West Indies.
Pakistan's cricket captain is with his mother in Mecca; Rizwan is with his mother and wife.
The two sixes from Kohli has already become part of cricketing forklore and Ponting, too, looked back fondly at those outrageous strokes
Australia clinched a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Pakistan in Hobart, powered by a blistering unbeaten 61 off 27 balls from Marcus Stoinis on Monday.
Former Pakistan players tore into captain Babar Azam and other players for their poor performance in World Cup 2023.
At the moment, Pakistan's World Cup campaign is stuck against a huge boulder primarily because of their bowlers' inability to fire as a unit, the latest setback being a 62-run defeat against Australia in Bengaluru.
Uncertainty shrouds Naseem Shah's availability for Pakistan's World Cup opening matches
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said the recent experience of playing in Sri Lankan conditions will give his side an edge over India.
Mohammad Rizwan scored a fluent 88 and Haris Rauf and Mohammed Nawaz took three wickets each as Pakistan edged England by three runs in a rollercoaster finish to the fourth Twenty20 in Karachi.
Leg-spinner Shah's selection was subject to the 35-year-old clearing a fitness test, chief selector Mohammad Wasim said in a statement.
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