India and Pakistan will both be part of Group 2 when the tournament gets underway in Dubai and Oman in the month of October this year. Technically India are still the hosts of the World Cup but the venue was shifted from India to the United Arab Emirates due to rising COVID-19 cases in India and in anticipation of possible third wave.
‘Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam’ is already a never-ending debate on the social media with Pakistan skipper’s personal achievements in ODI and T20 cricket already leaving a mark even though his side might be struggling.
Babar signed off the ODI series against a second-string England with a brilliant 158 in the third ODI but Pakistan were whitewashed 3-0.
So it is official now, arch-rivals and neighbours India and Pakistan will face off once again at an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament and this time in a thrilling T20 format. India-Pakistan encounters, which used to be a regular feature in the United Arab Emirates and more specifically Sharjah in the ’80s and ’90s, have become a rarity due to strained political relations between the two nations. In fact, the last India-Pakistan encounter was more than 2 years back – 2019 50-over World Cup – with Virat Kohli’s side thrashing Sarfaraz Ahmed’s boys by 89 runs (DLS method).
Fans on both sides of the border can’t keep their excitement in check with the ICC coming out with the draw for 2021 T20 World Cup on Friday (July 16). India and Pakistan will both be part of Group 2 when the tournament gets underway in Dubai and Oman in the month of October this year. Technically India are still the hosts of the World Cup but the venue was shifted from India to the United Arab Emirates due to rising COVID-19 cases in India and in anticipation of possible third wave.
Fans did not have to wait much longer for a 2nd T20 clash between the two nations as both sides entered the final. The match remains a milestone in Indian cricket history as Dhoni’s India became world champions for the second time after 1983 after S. Sreesanth completed a catch off Joginder Sharma’s bowling to come out victors by five runs.