Captain Babar Azam was delighted after hitting an unbeaten century as Pakistan notched up back-to-back wins over New Zealand with a 38-run victory over the tourists in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore on Saturday.
Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson hit fifties as New Zealand thrashed Pakistan by 46 runs in the first T20 International.
Former skipper Michael Vaughan feels England "missed the trick" by recalling its cricketers from the IPL to play a T20 series against Pakistan, saying it had denied them experiencing pressure-cooker situations of the playoffs, which could have helped them prepare better for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas.
None of New Zealand's batters were able to build on their starts
India and Pakistan will play at least two games in the Asia Cup, and possibly a third if they feature in the final.
Jasprit Bumrah was magnificent in India's six-run victory over Pakistan with figures of 3/14.
Ahead of the mega IND v PAK encounter, let's delve into the records of some of India's most consistent performers against their arch-rivals.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf on Friday gave a pep talk to the Pakistan cricket team ahead of its much-anticipated World Cup match against arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Pakistan slipped two places to No. 3 with 115 points in ICC's mid-week update.
Babar Azam became the first batsman to twice score three consecutive centuries
Despite missing the Ireland series, Suryakumar Yadav remains on the top spot in the T20I rankings for batters.
Even while bringing the curtains down on his T20I stint, Jadeja was in the shadows of the icons.
Set 183 for victory, Andrew Balbirnie produced a stunning knock to take Ireland over the line with five wickets and a ball to spare in front of a sell-out crowd.
'Pakistan will return home this week. India too will go back home after playing the semi-final as they too aren't that good.'
One bad match doesn't make me a bad bowler: Mohammed Siraj
Wickets fell at a steady rate thereafter, with Jayasuriya striking three times, claiming the wickets of Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed to leave Pakistan struggling at 101 for five.
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.
Pakistan's experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed laid out the team's plans to ruin Australia's star batter David Warner's farewell Test series.
Pakistan are traditionally good against spinners but Babar Azam and Co. would take the likes of promising Dunith Wellalage and company lightly at their peril.
The two teams last played each other in the 2019 World Cup.
'I would put my money on him at least for a little while to hold to all three but there are some good quality players around who will keep pushing him.'
Losing back-to-back wickets put us under pressure, says Pakistan skipper after loss to Zimbabwe
On-field umpires Masudur Rahman and Ruchira Pilliyaguruge, third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel levelled the charges.
Pakistan expected to give all in must-win World Cup clash against Bangladesh
Javed Miandad feels Sarfaraz Ahmed was better suited to lead the Test team in Australia
Subject to visa, the team will now leave for Hyderabad from Lahore in the wee hours of September 27 and reach Hyderabad via Dubai in the night.
'With Agha (Salman), Shadab (Khan) and (Mohammad) Nawaz, we have enough power-hitting to improvise. It's just a matter of giving them confidence.'
Zaka Ashraf back in Pakistan, discussing 'incidents' in India with senior board officials
Pakistan were stunned by the co-hosts USA in a thrilling nail-biting clash, settled in the Super Over.
USA's sparkling debut, Afghan bravehearts' dream run and India's brilliance
'It's about coming together, practising the right way and most importantly, believing in the same belief that they had at the start of the tournament and not change things midway.'
Latif said India have superior spinners and based on current form, Rohit Sharma's men are favourites for a win on Sunday.
The 22-year-old has already missed the first two games against Australia and Afghanistan but there is a high chance of him making it to the playing XI for the marquee clash against the arch-rivals.
Finn Allen equalled the world record for most sixes in a T20 International as he smashed 16 sixes to propel New Zealand to a thumping 45-run victory against Pakistan in the third T20 International.
Pakistani presenter Zainab Abbas, part of the ICC digital team covering the ODI World Cup, on Monday left India after facing backlash on social media over her alleged anti-India posts in the past.
'Credit goes to the team for having a lot of self-belief in themselves and coming back strongly after batting poorly in the first innings.'
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.
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.
Pakistan's unpredictability will once again be their big strength at the T20 World Cup.
Without bigger contributions from their senior players -- Masood and Babar Azam among them -- Pakistan may struggle to prevent the losing streak from stretching to 16 in Melbourne, for all of Hafeez's fighting words.
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