The Kiwi bowler said all teams will look to have their World Cup players spending the coming weeks together in order to finalise their preparations for the mega event.
With Afridi ready to bowl his toe-crushing yorkers, what could go wrong for Pakistan?
Despite the win the Pakistan skipper expressed disappointment at the form shown by him and opener Mohammad Rizwan, as both the batters failed to contribute.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah marks his return to the national men's team as Pakistan on Wednesday announced an 18-member squad for next month's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
England underlined their domination in white ball cricket as they outclassed Pakistan by five wickets to win the T20 World Cup title on Sunday.
Pakistan will be eager to raise their game.
Pakistan left England with their heads held high after their last two tours, drawing both, most recently under Misbah in 2018.
Virat Kohli not only hammered his 47th ODI ton, but also crossed 13,000 runs in ODI cricket.
The problem with non-selection of an Indian player in the XI is more to do with lack of matches rather than poor show since they have won both the series that they played in 2021.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Chennai on Monday.
Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12s match between New Zealand and Pakistan, in Sharjah, on Tuesday.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for the World Cup match against Pakistan?
If rain leads to a shortened game, Babar and his boys are ready.
Giving a strong indication of him turning up in India's World Cup opener against Australia in Chennai on Sunday, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went through an engaging net session on Thursday.
As the Indian think-tank ponders over its team combination ahead of the Pakistan clash, the legendary 73-year-old feels both could be accommodated.
These two guys could have been very handy in the World Cup, especially in conditions where they know what to do and how to take wickets. So, I believe these two guys, simply in India, have missed it, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Thursday
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.
New Zealand are better organised and clinical in terms of execution and hence could start as the favourites in the first semi-final against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Pakistan's batting consultant Matthew Hayden believes the 10-wicket thrashing of arch-rivals India set the tone for his side in the T20 World Cup and cited the players' commitment to training and spirituality as the reasons for their stupendous unbeaten run so far.
Root, Williamson, Rizwan and Afridi nominated for ICC Men's Cricketer of Year
Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop said Jasprit Bumrah's career can only be managed by picking and choosing tournaments amid the relentless schedule.
With the addition of two IPL teams and a mega players auction coming up ahead of the new season in 2022, star performers at the T20 World Cup could be rewarded with handsome bids.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for the World Cup match against New Zealand?
Daryl Mitchell and Matthew Wade were the heroes for their respective teams as New Zealand and Australia set up a Trans-Tasman final in the T20 World Cup.
Hasan Ali, who last played a Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July, has picked up 77 wickets in 21 Tests.
Kohli found support from the Pakistani star batter, who indicated that an athlete has to be really strong to overcome failures.
'Unbelievable. If you want controversy, please tell me before so I can answer accordingly'
Meanwhile, the sports ministry has asked the PCB not to offer a long-term contract to its incumbent director of cricket Mohammad Hafeez yet, who came into the role after the 50-overs World Cup last year.
Centuries from skipper Babar Azam (114) and opener Imam-ul-Haq (106) allowed the hosts to reach the total
Babar Azam scored his 18th century as Pakistan trounced New Zealand by 102 runs in the fourth One-Day International at the National stadium in Karachi on Friday. His 107 off 117 balls fired Pakistan to 334 for 6. In reply, New Zealand were shot out for 232 all out, their lowest total of the series.
England still top team in ODIs, but only just
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for their T20 World Cup opening match against Pakistan on Sunday?
'The next game is obviously a big one for us against the Netherlands in Adelaide. Have to put this one behind quickly, take whatever learnings we can.'
Haris Rauf bowled a couple of hostile spells, while Imam-ul-Haq struck a silken 78 as Pakistan secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a Super Four clash of the Asia Cup, in Lahore on Wednesday.
A slew of records were broken as Pakistan recorded a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka after chasing down a mammoth 345 in their ICC World Cup match in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed dramatically throughout the fourth day with 14 wickets falling before Roach stroked the winning runs through the covers.
'I was not able to watch that 19th over bowled by Arshdeep.' 'My son and daughter were watching the match and my eyes were closed.' 'When they used to shout 'Dot ball', I used to open my eyes, that is how I saw that Arshdeep over.'
There have been 24 occasions on which 400 has been passed in ODI cricket and 15 of those have come since the 2011 World Cup.
In India's last group match, Yadav blasted a 25-ball 61 as he added six points in the weekly rankings update to go 39 points clear of second-placed Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan.
A look at 5 key battles in Sunday's clash at the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
