Tag: pakistan

Can Pakistan’s allies help revive its economy through investment dollars? | Explainer

Islamabad, Pakistan — In a series of trips over the past three months, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tried to convince the debt-strapped country’s three closest allies — China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — to invest in the nation, as its precariously positioned economy looks for green shoots.

In June last year, under Sharif’s first tenure as prime minister, the government formed a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a high-powered body comprising Pakistani civilian and military leaders, to promote investment in Pakistan.

Following the tours to Beijing, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, the Sharif government is pointing towards a raft of memorandums of understanding signed on those trips as indicators of potential investment coming to Pakistan.

However, analysts caution that the attempts to get foreign direct investment (FDI) will work only if Pakistan can promise a stable political landscape and bring structural reforms to its economy.

So what did Pakistan get out of Sharif’s trips, and what does it need to do to attract investments as it prepares to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to enter its 24th loan programme since 1958?

$5bn from Saudi Arabia?

After taking office in March for the second time, Sharif paid two visits to Saudi Arabia in April. These tours were followed by a series of visits by senior Saudi officials, including the defence and foreign ministers, to Pakistan. In early May, a 50-member Saudi business delegation also flew down to participate in an investment conference.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud visited Pakistan in May this year [File: Sohail Shahzad/EPA]

In his two meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in April, Sharif discussed opportunities to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries and explored the possibility of a $5bn investment package.

“We have identified areas of cooperation, both at the government-to-government and business-to-business levels, and that has been clearly identified. We now have a clear-cut way forward,” Sharif told Al Arabiya TV news in May.

Last year, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar also claimed that Saudi Arabia had agreed to invest $25bn in various sectors of Pakistan, without offering any details.

Ali Farid Khwaja, an investor and chairman of KTrade Securities, said Pakistan had laid out possibilities for Saudi investment in six different fields, including an oil refinery project, agriculture, mining, power sector, technology and aviation.

“There is no question that Pakistan needs investment. Just 18 or so months ago, we were on the verge of default, but because of these dialogues and engagement with friendly countries, we are letting them know what we can offer,” he told Al Jazeera.

A senior Pakistani government official who has been part of negotiations with the Saudi delegations said Pakistan was hopeful Riyadh would invest from its Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund with estimated assets of more than $900bn. “They are obviously seeking investment opportunities and trying to follow their vision,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Negotiations on the proposed $5bn investment are under way, the official added.

“Right now, we are in the discussion stage, which has started. As and when these negotiations mature, things will clarify and we will see what the final deals are like,” he added.

And $10bn from the UAE?

Sharif followed up his Saudi visits by making a one-day visit in late May to the UAE, another long-term partner for the country, during which he met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Following the meeting between the leaders, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office announced that the UAE had committed to $10bn in investment in Pakistan in various fields.

The UAE Ministry of Investment confirmed the pledge. But a month later, few details are available on which sectors the UAE might invest in, and if the two sides have agreed to a timeframe for the investments.

The Chinese MoU list

But it was Sharif’s five-day-long visit to China in June, the first of this term, that analysts said was the most critical of his foreign sojourns.

He was accompanied by military chief General Syed Asim Munir, and the Pakistani leadership held dialogues with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other leaders in Beijing.

The visit came two months after armed men attacked a bus carrying Chinese engineers who were working on a major hydropower plant in Pakistan’s north, killing at least five Chinese nationals and one Pakistani.

The attack was one in a series of setbacks to projects built under the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a $62bn project launched a decade ago, when Sharif’s elder brother Nawaz, himself a three-time prime minister, was the premier of the country.

The last 10 years have seen Pakistan’s reliance on China growing significantly, as the relationship, which was once centred on military ties, has expanded into the economic arena in a big way: Pakistan owes China nearly $30bn out of its total foreign debt obligations of nearly $130bn.

The country’s economic managers have emphasised that unless there is significant foreign investment, Pakistan will not be able to meet its ambitious 3.6 percent growth rate, which the country has targeted for the next fiscal year.

Following Sharif’s return from Beijing, both Chinese and Pakistani governments issued statements about increased focus on security, as well as forging an “upgraded version of CPEC” to better help Pakistan’s economic and social development.

But despite signing 23 MoUs in various sectors during Sharif’s visit, there was no concrete agreement beyond shows of intent, on any project that the two nations might prioritise.

What does Pakistan need to do?

Ever since the creation of the SIFC last June, the government has credited the organisation with helping facilitate investment opportunities from outside the country.

The latest available central bank data reveals that from July to April this year, Pakistan received $1.45bn in investments, an increase of a paltry 8.1 percent from last year.

However, analysts say that while the three recent visits showed Pakistan’s desperation to attain financial support, whether in the form of bank deposits or investment projects, the failure to realise the projects substantially was due to Pakistan’s volatile landscape.

“The reason for non-materialisation of any investments or such projects lies in the chronic political instability in the country and the structural issues plaguing Pakistan’s economy,” Umer Karim, an associate fellow of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, told Al Jazeera.

Economic analyst Uzair Younus also concurs, saying the fundamental issue for Pakistan remains the question of the broader environment within the country.

“At a time when domestic businesses are hesitant to invest in the economy, foreign capital will be even more conservative. For Pakistan to attract capital flows, it must embark on holistic reforms and provide a credible roadmap that excites domestic and foreign investors. So far, this does not seem to be the case under the Sharif government,” the Washington, DC-based analyst told Al Jazeera.

The challenge for the Sharif government stems from the political instability in the country following the elections, marred by allegations of manipulation and rigging.

The increasing attacks on law enforcement officials in the last 18 months have added another layer of challenge to the country’s overstretched military, which has to man both its eastern border with archrival India and its western border with Afghanistan.

But Khwaja of KTrade Securities, on the other hand, painted a more cautiously optimistic picture.

The London-based investor said the three major lenders to Pakistan are evidently working in concert for a wider investment plan in the country.

“Pakistan is talked about as a country with Saudi software coming on Chinese hardware, and now the connections are becoming clearer,” he said.

Karachi-based economist Khurram Husain, however, points out that the three countries Sharif visited also happen to be the largest bilateral creditors to Pakistan.

“Pakistan is perceived by all foreign investors as a high-risk country, so the state is focused on finding a way to make large government-to-government deals happen. The problem is, they need cash support at this time, and these deals, even if they come, will not bring much cash,” Husain told Al Jazeera.

The analyst added that the best way out of the current economic difficulty for Pakistan is domestic reforms, not foreign support.

“Realistically, Pakistan should try to manage its external debt profile rather than seek more cash-based support from its bilateral creditors,” he added.

However, Riyadh-based Karim said the foreign visits have developed a political aspect where the optics are used by the Pakistani governments as “signs of international trust and support” but some focus on domestic investors must be paid to revive the economy.

“FDI certainly remains an important component of economic expansion and growth; however, the government could have started with facilitating local investors and businesses to develop a roadmap that could then be offered to foreign investors,” he said.

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Will India’s Modi break the ice with Pakistan in his third term? | India Election 2024 News

Islamabad, Pakistan –  As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third time as his country’s leader on June 9, seven counterparts from neighbouring nations joined a very select audience in marking the moment.

The setting — a summer evening, with an orangish dusk sky, and handpicked leaders from the region in attendance — carried echoes of Modi’s first oath-taking ceremony as India’s premier in 2014, which was repeated in 2019.

But there was one big difference from 2014: Missing from the lineup of visiting leaders was the prime minister of Pakistan.

A decade ago, images of Pakistan’s then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif clasping Modi’s hands during his visit to attend the swearing-in event signalled a fresh hope for long-tortured India-Pakistan relations — hope that subsequent setbacks to ties have all but extinguished. Now, as Modi begins his third term in office, with a sharply reduced mandate that has left him dependent on coalition allies to stay in power, analysts expect the Indian leader to pursue a tough posture towards Pakistan, with little incentive to seek any easing in tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

“Modi will reach out to regional neighbours, all of whom were invited to his swearing-in.  But not Pakistan,” said Maleeha Lodhi, former Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations, United States and the United Kingdom. “His government is likely to continue its hard line towards Pakistan with which he has shown no interest to engage for the past five years. This is unlikely to change.”

And early signs appear to vindicate Lodhi’s assessment.

A message and an attack

On the very day that Modi took oath, at least nine people were killed and more than 30 injured when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in the Reasi district of Indian-administered Kashmir fell in a gorge after it was targeted by gunmen.

This was followed by three more incidents within a week in different areas of Indian-administered Kashmir in which security forces engaged with attackers, killing three while seven security personnel were injured.

Indian security agencies have blamed Pakistani involvement. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch rejected the allegations on Thursday, and accused Indian authorities of a “habit of making such irresponsible statements”.

“No one takes these allegations seriously,” Baloch said.

Still, a day after the attack in Reasi, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif tried to rekindle his past bonhomie with Modi.

“My warm felicitations to Modi Ji (@narendramodi) on assuming office for the third time. Your party’s success in recent elections reflects the confidence of the people in your leadership. Let us replace hate with hope and seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia,” the three-time prime minister, and currently a member of the Pakistani parliament, wrote on June 10.

The Indian premier, too, responded in kind, acknowledging the message by his former counterpart.

“Appreciate your message @NawazSharifMNS. The people of India have always stood for peace, security and progressive ideas. Advancing the well-being and security of our people shall always remain our priority,” he wrote on X.

By contrast, the congratulatory message from Pakistan’s current prime minister, Nawaz’s younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, was far more restrained.

“Felicitations to @narendramodi on taking oath as the Prime Minister of India,” Sharif wrote from his account.

Security concerns

After the attack in Reasi on June 9, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah — widely seen as Modi’s deputy — pledged that those behind the attack would not be spared.

India has long viewed Pakistan primarily through the prism of its security concerns. India accuses its neighbour of fomenting trouble in Indian-administered Kashmir, as well as of masterminding numerous violent attacks on Indian territory, charges which Islamabad has denied.

Ajay Darshan Behera, a scholar of international studies at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, says that India’s policy towards Pakistan hinges on the issue of “terrorism”.

“The previous Modi regime aimed to raise the costs for Pakistan for supporting terrorism. If there is no major terrorist attack in Kashmir, this Modi regime will likely maintain a policy of indifference towards Pakistan. It is doubtful that Prime Minister Modi will unilaterally initiate any re-engagement with Pakistan,” he told Al Jazeera.

Shaping that approach is the spectre of violence that has always hovered over the relationship when the two sides have attempted peace overtures.

Nawaz Sharif was Pakistan’s prime minister when he travelled to India in 2014 to attend Modi’s first oath-taking ceremony [Harish Tyagi/EPA]

In late 2015, Modi paid a daylong surprise visit to Pakistan to attend the wedding of then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter near Lahore.

The visit resulted in hopes that the two countries might be forging a path of reconciliation but merely a week later, a group of attackers entered an Indian Air Force base, killing at least eight Indians, including security personnel. India blamed Pakistan for the incident and demanded that it arrest the perpetrators of the attack.

India’s hardened stance towards Pakistan since then, said Lodhi, the former ambassador, had reaped “rich electoral dividends” for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — especially during the 2019 Indian elections.

“Their Pakistan-bashing makes chances of any India-Pakistan thaw very slim,” she added.

Salman Bashir, another senior diplomat and a former Pakistani high commissioner to India, said that India’s current position on Pakistan — effectively, a refusal to talk until its security concerns are addressed — is a relatively cost-free option for Modi, though he added that it might be premature to speculate on the Indian premier’s next steps.

“There are no compulsions for Modi to try to mend relations with Pakistan. India stands to gain by continuing its adversarial policy towards Pakistan,” Bashir told Al Jazeera.

2019 turning point

When Modi won the second term in the 2019 elections, the election campaign was marked by anti-Pakistan jingoism fuelled by a sharp escalation in tensions that left the neighbours on the verge of war.

Months before the elections, an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir saw more than 40 Indian soldiers killed. The Indian government blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the attack and launched a strike inside Pakistani territory, saying it targeted fighters’ training camps.

Pakistan responded by sending its fighter jets into Indian airspace the next day and in the ensuing chase, an Indian Air Force jet was shot down and the pilot captured. The tense standoff only calmed down after Pakistan returned the pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, two days after his arrest.

Riding the anti-Pakistan wave, as well as his own popularity, Modi’s BJP managed to win more than 300 seats and returned to power.

Five years later, things appear to have changed, at least domestically for Modi.

For long stretches of the seven-phase election campaigning, Pakistan’s mention as an electoral theme was almost negligible, and the country only became a talking point during the later stages.

Defying exit polls that had projected a landslide majority for the BJP and its allies, Modi’s party fell short of the halfway mark (272 seats) in parliament, winning 242 seats. It is the first time in a quarter century as a chief executive — first in charge of the state of Gujarat and then, since 2014, of India — that Modi has had to depend on allies to keep his government in place.

Irfan Nooruddin, a professor of Indian politics at Georgetown University in Washington, said that the “relatively poor performance” of the BJP in the 2024 general election might mean that the immediate focus of the Indian government is more “inward-looking” as the “party introspects on its losses and tries to avoid a repeat in the state elections”. Several key states are expected to vote for their legislatures in the next few months, including Maharashtra, India’s second-largest state.

“I doubt we’ll see any significant foreign policy announcements other than those that allow PM Modi to showcase his close personal partnership with Western leaders,” Nooruddin told Al Jazeera.

“Foreign policy tends not to be an electoral issue and the coalition partners on whom PM Modi’s government relies do not have strong foreign policy preferences,” Nooruddin added.

Diplomatic deadlock

Meanwhile, Sharat Sabharwal, a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, said he does not foresee any major change in the foreign policy of the new Modi government compared to the previous one.

“I think India would respond positively to improve relations with Pakistan provided it sees a constructive and pragmatic approach from the Pakistani side,” he told Al Jazeera.

The former diplomat said that while it is a given that better relations will help benefit both countries, he added that holding an antagonistic stance exacts more of a cost on Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s adversarial posture towards India, a country with an economy 10 times bigger, imposes a heavy burden on its economy. Suspension of trade with India also hurts Pakistan’s economy much more than the Indian economy,” he added.

Leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, attending a leaders summit in Japan in 2022 [Zhang Xiaoyu/EPA]

India, with a population of more than 1.4 billion people, is the world’s fifth-largest economy.

It is becoming an increasingly assertive voice on the global front, hosting G20 summits, and joining various multilateral forums like the Quad. Modi’s first overseas trip after taking oath was to attend the G7 leadership meeting in Italy.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, a country with 241 million people, is seeking its 24th loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 1958, to shore up its faltering economy amid a volatile political and security landscape.

“Both India and Pakistan’s economies would benefit from a more rational relationship, and given India’s relative economic strength vis-a-vis Pakistan, one could even argue that India would gain more,” Nooruddin said. “So, I do think it’s in India’s long-term interest to make its Pakistan posture less adversarial.”

Behera of Jamila Millia University said that improved bilateral ties could prove beneficial to traders and farmers on both sides who have lost business opportunities due to the stalemate.

“However, neither country can take the initiative to improve ties, as both have conditions for re-engagement. India demands a commitment from Pakistan to stop supporting terrorist groups, while Pakistan seeks the restoration of Article 370,” he added, referring to India’s 2019 decision to scrap the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir that gave it some autonomy.

Nooruddin said that both sides needed to do more to restore ties to a semblance of normalcy — but that New Delhi ought to take more responsibility.

“I’d argue it’s a shared onus. But India, which wishes to be seen as a global player and as the regional hegemon, should act first so that it can fulfil its global ambitions,” he said.



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Onion exports: How Pakistan briefly won at India’s cost in unlikely matchup | Business and Economy News

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani onion farmers and exporters are celebrating a windfall due to an unprecedented surge in exports over the past few months, an unlikely win at the cost of their counterparts across the border in India.

The South Asian nations, bitter rivals in myriad arenas, are also major onion producers. But India is also the world’s second-largest onion exporter after China, and is a dominant force in the global market for the vegetable, its produce often crowding out onions from smaller nations.

So, in December, when India imposed an export ban due to a decline in local onion production, ahead of national elections, Pakistani farmers and exporters jumped at what they recognised was a rare opportunity. In 2023, India exported nearly 2.5 million tonnes of onions. Suddenly the world onion market had a gap — one that Pakistan partly filled.

Pakistan managed to export more than 220,000 tonnes of onions between December and March this year, which was a little more than its usual annual onion export volume.

Waheed Ahmed, patron-in-chief of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA), attributed this success to quick thinking — and a government willingness, at least for a while, to allow exports without placing a ban similar to India’s.

“When India placed the ban, we urged the government to allow us to avail the opportunity, and by our timely action, we managed to earn more than $200m in revenue for the country,” Ahmed told Al Jazeera.

The Pakistani government did eventually impose restrictions on onion exports, as the outward flood of the produce meant soaring domestic prices. But exports already under way through deals approved before the restrictions are expected to bring another $50m in revenue by the end of the fiscal year in June, said Ahmed.

By contrast, Ahmed said, the country typically earns between $110m and $150m from onion exports per year. Last year, the country was able to earn more than $235m in total from vegetable exports, with onion exports contributing about $90m.

Domestic shortage and price hike

For Pakistan, which has faced a desperate economic situation over the last two years, the export brought much-needed foreign reserves. The country’s central bank data showed that forex reserves, which were as low as $3bn last year, have recovered to $9bn this month, enough to cover imports for six weeks.

However, like onions, the feel-good story has multiple layers. The success of Pakistani onion exports resulted in a shortage of onions in the domestic market for a few months.

With more than 220,000 tonnes of the harvest being shipped overseas, the availability of onions for local consumption dwindled, pushing prices upwards between December and April, the duration when Indian onions were blocked from being exported, hitting ordinary Pakistanis hard.

The first four months of the year saw onion prices, typically 50 to 80 rupees ($0.18 to $0.29) per kilogramme, rise as high as 250 to 350 rupees ($0.90 to $1.26) per kilogramme, before gradually dropping in May.

“Onions are a staple in our daily meals,” Sumaira a housemaid in Islamabad who goes by one name, told Al Jazeera. “But with everything else getting more expensive, the rising onion price just adds to the burden,” she said.

Hamid Baloch, originally from Pasni in the southwestern province of Balochistan but currently working as a chef in a cafe in Islamabad, said the increase in onion prices impacted his business both in terms of production costs and sales.

“We buy in bulk, and one bag of 5 kilos of onions was going for 1500 rupees to 1800 rupees [$5.39 to $6.47] before it started coming down this month. Now it is available for close to 500 rupees [$1.50],” the 25-year-old told Al Jazeera while slicing onions for the chicken curry he was preparing.

Chef Hamid Baloch prepares chicken curry at his cafe in Islamabad [Abid Hussain/Al Jazeera]

According to the World Bank, more than 39 percent of Pakistanis earn less than $3.5 a day, and one of them is Muhammad Azam.

A daily wage worker in Islamabad, Azam said the rising cost of living meant people like him struggled to afford necessities.

“My children and I cannot even think about eating chicken more than once every two months. All we have are pulses and vegetables like onions or tomatoes, but in the last few months, even those were nearly impossible to buy,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that the last few weeks have seen a declining price trend in not only onions but other items as well.

Godsend opportunity

Inflation data and exporters both concur with the reduction in onion price.

Government figures showed that inflation, which had hit a record high of more than 38 percent May of last year, continued its downward trend, with the inflation figure for May 2024 recorded at 11.8 percent.

According to Imtiaz Hussain, a fruit and vegetable exporter in Karachi, the declining price of onions was due to the Indian government reversing its export ban.

“In early May, the Indian government reopened its onion exports, and markets in the Gulf region and some countries in the Far East, where we were able to sell, went back to procuring their onions from India,” he told Al Jazeera.

Ahmed, the PFVA official, said that exporters and farmers showed “good sense and opportunism” to export as many onions as they could during the short time period, when the government curtailed onion exports in March.

“Our aim was to continue exporting without causing a significant shortage in the domestic market,” he said.

Countering the inflated onion prices, Ahmed said that the increase was due to retailers exploiting customers while blaming exporters.

“In our wholesale markets, onions were continuously available for less than 150 rupees ($0.54) per kilogramme, so why should we get the blame if retailers sell them for more than 300 rupees? This is for the government to address, not us,” he said.

For Ahmed, the opportunity to earn foreign exchange was a balancing act after 2022, when floods destroyed large crops, including onions, in Pakistan’s southern areas, causing immense devastation to farmers.

“We suffered due to the flood, but this opportunity was a godsend. If farmers earn from one crop, they will invest more in the next crop. We just need to work on training our farmers to learn better, modern agricultural practices to increase their yield and revenue.”

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India vs Pakistan – T20 World Cup match: Teams, head-to-head, form, pitch | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

Who: India vs Pakistan
What: ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match
When: Sunday, June 9, 10:30am local time (14:30 GMT)
Where: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, United States
How: Follow Al Jazeera’s live text and photo coverage

Gary Kirsten had his first taste of the agony associated with being a Pakistan cricket supporter when the new head coach of the men’s side saw the team crumble to a super over loss against USA in their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan’s defeat against the tournament debutants and co-hosts was amongst the biggest shocks in the game’s history, but Kirsten believes his players have “moved forward” and are now focused on the challenge ahead.

The challenge, incidentally, cannot get any bigger than a must-win World Cup match against historic rivals India.

“There’s no need for me to motivate the team for this game,” Kirsten told reporters on Saturday.

The South African, who was in charge of the Indian team when they won their second ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, said the atmosphere could be “a little bit different” because the game is not being played in India or Pakistan but expects plenty of support for both teams at the New York venue.

Kirsten admitted that the pitch will be difficult to bat on, and bowlers from both sides will have an advantage.

“The batters are going to have to play with courage, assess the conditions, assess what a good score could be on this wicket [if we bat first] and then make sure we get a competitive total.”

India’s captain Rohit Sharma agreed with Kirsten’s assessment, and said his team will have to assess the wicket “very quickly” and adjust accordingly.

Rohit’s side has the advantage of having played two games on the pitch, one of which was their tournament opener against Ireland. India completed the tricky chase thanks to Rohit’s half-century, but the captain had to retire hurt after being hit on the arm.

The experienced batter said he will play his innings in “a very balanced way”.

“I don’t want to be too aggressive or too cautious, but someone has to put pressure on the bowlers to try and do something different.  Otherwise, it’s a very easy game [for the bowlers].”

Pitch and weather conditions

The condition of the pitches at the Nassau County Stadium has steadily improved over the past four games, but it still has an element of unpredictability. However, it is still expected to favour seam bowlers and both sides have plenty of those in their lineups.

Following criticism from fans and ex-players, the International Cricket Council (ICC) admitted the pitches were not up to standard and that ground staff were working on remedying them.

The India-Pakistan match is expected to be played on a new surface.

Weather could have a say in the match as there is a forecast for rain in the morning.

Form guide

Both teams enter the match with contrasting forms.

India have won two of their last three T20I series at home and away, and managed to beat Ireland in their opening game.

Pakistan couldn’t have had a worse start to their campaign, which also comes on the back of a 2-0 series loss against England and 2-1 scrape past Ireland.

India: W W W W W
Pakistan: L L L W W

India team news

India are unlikely to tinker with the XI that got them past Ireland in the opening game, but there could be a case for bringing in Kuldeep Yadav in place of Axar Patel given the former’s success against Pakistan’s captain.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Pakistan team news

Pakistan’s coach Kirsten evaded questions about his side’s playing XI and also stopped short of Wasim’s inclusion in the side despite the all-rounder being declared fit.

Azam Khan’s poor run of form could see him drop out in favour of young opener Saim Ayub, while the vastly experienced Wasim could slot in for Iftikhar Ahmed.

Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Key match-ups

  • Virat Kohli vs Mohammad Amir
  • Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Shah Afridi
  • Babar Azam vs Kuldeep Yadav
  • Rishabh Pant vs Shadab Khan
  • Mohammad Rizwan vs Arshdeep Singh

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India vs Pakistan at T20 World Cup: Time, security, pitch, tickets, history | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

Cricket’s fiercest rivals India and Pakistan will come face to face in a highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 match for the first time in the United States.

India head into the Group A match on the back of a comfortable win over Ireland, while Pakistan are under pressure after suffering a shock defeat to co-hosts USA in the opener.

Security arrangements in Long Island have been increased to an unprecedented level for a sports event, multiple screening events are planned across the world and tickets are selling like hotcakes.

Here’s everything you need to know about cricket’s marquee fixture:

When is India vs Pakistan?

The match will be played on Sunday, June 9. It will start at 10:30am local (14:30 GMT). For viewers in India and Pakistan, it would be at 8pm and 7:30pm respectively.

Where is India vs Pakistan?

The match will be held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island, New York. It has a capacity of 34,000.

How’s the New York pitch?

The temporary Nassau County International Cricket Stadium has hosted three games so far. The first two were low-scoring encounters that favoured seam bowlers due to the nature of the drop-in pitch. Batters found it difficult to hit big shots due to the movement and bounce.

Following criticism from fans and ex-players, the International Cricket Council has said the pitches have not been up to standard and ground staff are working on remedying them for the rest of the tournament.

The third match, between Ireland and Canada, saw both teams post scores above 100 but the pitch remained tricky.

The India-Pakistan match is expected to be played on a new surface.

[Al Jazeera]

Are there any security concerns for India vs Pakistan?

The Governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul, said last week that security arrangements in New York would be “elevated” for the tournament, especially before the marquee clash between India and Pakistan.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said his teams are not taking the match lightly and termed it like the “Super Bowl on steroids” when it comes to fan interest.

Ryder told Indian newspaper Deccan Herald that the security for the match “is possibly more than the one we offer the president”.

Where can I get tickets for India vs Pakistan?

General tickets for the match have been sold out, but limited premium tickets are still available on the official ICC platform, ranging from $1,500 to $10,000.

Ticket resale websites are offering tickets for the “hottest event” as well, with prices starting at $980 and reaching up to a whopping $17,475.

How is New York gearing up for the match?

The ICC has arranged official fan parks for fans who could not travel to the host city.

In New York, India vs Pakistan will be broadcast live for fans at Oculus World Trade Center and Cedar Creek Park. Fan parks will also be arranged at Epic Central in Texas and Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center. Most of these venues have been sold out as well.

Apart from the US, the ICC has arranged fan parks in New Delhi, India and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom and South Africa.

What’s the weather going to be like in New York?

There is a forecast for rain in the morning, which could interrupt the fixture.

What happens if rain interrupts a T20 World Cup match?

In case of adverse weather conditions or other interruptions, an additional 90 minutes will be allotted to all morning and afternoon fixtures, and 60 minutes to all evening fixtures.

In case of a shortened match, each team will have to complete five overs for a result to be declared.

There is no reserve day for group-stage games.

What happens if the India vs Pakistan match is tied?

All tied matches will proceed to a super over. And if that too is tied, subsequent super overs will be played until a winner emerges.

How to watch and follow India vs Pakistan?

Al Jazeera will have live text and photo coverage of the match from 09:00 GMT.

The match will be broadcast and streamed live through various rights holders. Disney Star will broadcast the match in India, while PTV and Ten Sports have the rights in Pakistan.

Who is the favourite to win?

India are favourites to win this match owing to their dominant head-to-head record.

In the seven times the teams have met at the T20 World Cup, India have won six times, including a bowl-out, while Pakistan have won only once.

  • 2007 (group match) – Johannesburg: India edged Pakistan in a bowl-out after the match was tied at the end of both innings.
  • 2007 (final) – Johannesburg: India won the first T20 World Cup after defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final. The inexperienced Joginder Sharma bowled a fantastic final over, while Irfan Pathan and RP Singh also played key roles, picking up three wickets each.
  • 2012 – Colombo: India registered a comfortable eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the group stage, as the bowlers bundled out Pakistan for just 128 runs, with Lakshmipathy Balaji bagging three wickets. Virat Kohli, aged 22 at the time, scored an unbeaten 78 runs.
  • 2014 – Mirpur: India strolled to an easy seven-wicket win in the group stage after their spinners restricted Pakistan to 130-7. Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina’s unbeaten 66-run partnership took India home.
  • 2016 – Kolkata: In a rain-affected contest, India’s bowlers restricted Pakistan to 118-5 before Kohli struck an unbeaten 55 as India won the group game by six wickets.
  • 2021 – Dubai: Pakistan defeated India for the first time in the tournament when they won by 10 wickets in a group game. Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali picked five wickets between them to restrict India to 151-7 before Mohammad Rizwan (79 not out) and Babar Azam (68 not out) closed out a historic result.
  • 2022 – Melbourne: India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in front of more than 90,000 fans in a group game, as Kohli smashed an unbeaten 82 for a thrilling finish.
(Al Jazeera)



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India vs Pakistan, ‘nagin dance’, Ashes : A look at cricket’s top rivalries | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

Some of the most thrilling encounters in sport have been between nations or athletes with historic rivalries that add an extra layer of anticipation and drama.

In cricket, these rivalries range from sour relations stemming from decades-old conflicts to colonial history and some newly-formed bitterness.

The ICC T20 World Cup will highlight some of these top rivalries as in the tournament’s group stage and, perhaps, the Super Eights.

Here is a look at some of the most thrilling match-ups in the history of the game:

India vs Pakistan

The clash that has been the biggest, quickest-selling and most anticipated match of every multilateral cricket tournament.

The rivalry originated in 1947 when India was partitioned into two countries following British colonial rule. Pakistan and India have since fought three wars, and diplomatic ties between both countries have mostly remained bitter.

On the cricket field, the head-to-head record favours Pakistan in Test matches (12-9) and one-day internationals (73-56) while India have the upper hand in T20 matches (8-3).

When it comes to World Cup history, the scale is heavily tilted in India’s favour. Pakistan have never beaten India in the ICC ODI World Cup in their eight meetings and have only won once in their seven encounters in the T20 World Cup.

Their last clash, at the Cricket World Cup on October 14, went India’s way again as romped to a seven-wicket win at biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

The South Asian rivals will meet at New York’s newly-built Nassau County Stadium on Saturday, June 9 in front of a sell-out crowd of at least 34,000.

 

India’s Virat Kohli shakes hands with Pakistan’s Shadab Khan following the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan in Melbourne, Australia on October 23, 2022 [File: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP Photo]

Australia vs England

The oldest rivalry in the game – dating back to the 1800s – originated when a British newspaper famously wrote a condescending and racist article on Australia’s cricket team.

It was set in stone when, in 1882, British tabloid The Sporting Times published a mock obituary of English cricket following their Test team’s defeat to their trans-continental rivals, saying “the body [of English cricket] will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia”.

The bitterness originated from Test cricket and comes to the fore during the Ashes Test series, but has carried on to all sporting encounters between both countries.

In Cricket World Cup history, both teams have met on nine occasions. Australia have won six of those matches and England three.

England’s first T20 World Cup title also came at Australia’s expense, when they won the 2010 final in the West Indies. Their second one was won in Australia, when they beat Pakistan to lift the title.

The T20 Cup 2024 edition of Australia vs England is set for June 8 at Barbados.

England’s captain Eoin Morgan, left, celebrates with teammate Joe Root after winning the Cricket World Cup semifinal match against Australia on July 11, 2019 [File: Rui Vieira/AP Photo]

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka

It started with a dance, specifically the “nagin dance”, in 2018.

Bangladesh bowler Nazmul Islam had been doing the nagin (cobra in Hindi) dance to celebrate his wickets for some time, so when his side beat Sri Lanka in the T20 series in January 2018, he pulled it out again for all four of his wickets.

Sri Lanka’s Danushka Gunathilaka did not take kindly to the serpentine celebration and did his own version to mock Islam when he dismissed two of Bangladesh’s batters.

A few months later, the celebration gained traction during the triangular Nidahas trophy, which also included India. When Bangladesh recorded their second win against hosts Sri Lanka, their entire team broke out into an overzealous “nagin dance” celebration on the pitch.

The night ended with shattered glass in the visiting team’s dressing room and nothing has changed since.

Every time both teams meet, there is no shortage of provocative placards in the stands and venomous celebrations on the field.

In ODI cricket, Sri Lanka have won 42 of their 53 ODI meetings between both countries, while Bangladesh have won nine. They also hold the upper hand in the ODI World Cup, four wins in five matches.

Sri Lanka have beaten Bangladesh twice in their T20 World Cup meetings, but the Bengal Tigers tamed the Lankan Lions with a two-wicket win in a thrilling match at the 2024 edition in Dallas.

Bangladesh’s team members perform the ‘nagin dance’ as they celebrate their team’s victory over Sri Lanka in the Nidahas triangular series on March 16, 2018 [File: Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo]

Afghanistan vs Pakistan

Afghanistan and Pakistan have been involved in a complicated geopolitical and cultural relationship for several decades and share a porous border that is often subject to violence and abrupt closures.

The political tensions have translated into a fierce on-field rivalry, especially over the past few years as Afghanistan have swiftly built a reputation as world beaters.

Several members of the early Afghan cricket team, including former captains Gulbadin Naib and Mohammed Nabi, picked up the sport while living in Pakistan as refugees during the decades of war and turmoil in their home country.

Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy in Lahore hosted the players for training sessions. Some of the earliest coaches of the Afghan team also came from Pakistan.

However, the historical tension between the countries has often come to the fore when the teams have met in recent years. Although Pakistan hold a 7-1 lead over their neighbours in ODI cricket and a 4-2 lead in T20 internationals, some recent matches have seen last-ball finishes that have gone Pakistan’s way.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah has been a consistent thorn in the Afghan side by twice taking Pakistan home when a loss seemed certain.

This mix of history and last-ball finishes has ended up igniting a fire in both sets of fans. Things got particularly ugly when Afghan fans vandalised the stadium and threw chairs at their Pakistani counterparts after losing a thrilling match in the 2022 Asia Cup. This came after tempers flared on the pitch when Pakistani batter Asif Ali angrily waved his bat at Afghan bowler Fareed Ahmad.

The Afghans famously beat Pakistan at the ODI World Cup in India in November, sparking wild celebrations on the field and back home in Afghanistan.

Both sides could meet in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, should they manage to qualify.

Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmad, left, and Pakistan’s Asif Ali, right, react after Ali was dismissed by Ahmad during an Asia Cup match in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on September 7, 2022 [File: Anjum Naveed/AP Photo]

Australia vs India

While these two of the sport’s “big three” have been playing against each other since the 1940s, the contest picked up traction in the 1980s and became a full-on rivalry in the 2000s.

Most of the heated exchanges and thrilling encounters have taken place in Test cricket’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, especially since the famous Eden Gardens Test match in 2001 that saw India come back from a follow-on to win the match by two wickets.

A heated exchange between Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds led to the famous “monkeygate” scandal, which saw Singh get banned and then unbanned during the series.

India’s Yuvraj Singh celebrates as Australia’s Brett Lee walks by after India won their Cricket World Cup 2011 quarterfinal match in Ahmedabad on March 24, 2011 [File: Reuters]

In the Cricket World Cup, both teams have met in the knock-out stages of the tournament in recent years.

In 2011, India famously beat Australia by five wickets in a closely-contested quarterfinal to win the World Cup at home.

Australia returned the favour four years later when they eased to a 95-run win in Sydney and went on to lift their World Cup fifth title.Both teams opened their 2023 campaign against each other in a thrilling tie on Sunday in Chennai, which India won by six wickets after a rocky start to their run chase.

The overall ODI record of 150 matches still favours Australia, with 83 wins compared with India’s 50. The five-time champions have also won in eight of their 13 meetings in the Cricket World Cup and India have won five.

In T20Is, India have won 19 of their 31 meetings and Australia have won 11.

The two sides could meet in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup 2024, should they qualify.



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USA vs Pakistan: What are the five biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history? | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

After USA record a historic win over Pakistan, Al Jazeera lists the five major upsets in the tournament’s history.

USA have pulled off one of the biggest upsets in cricket’s history by beating Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2024 encounter in Dallas.

The win, which came in a super over after scores were tied after the regulation 20 overs, sent shockwaves through the cricket world and led many experts to believe that cricket may finally take off in the land of baseball.

Here are the top five upsets – in order of their shock value – in the 17-year history of the T20 World Cup:

1. USA beat Pakistan: 2024

The co-hosts had never played Pakistan in any format of the game before Thursday’s match. Ranked 12 places below the 2009 champions, the USA went into the match riding on the wave of their win over Canada in their opening match of the tournament. Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of a series loss against England.

Despite the contrasting forms, not many experts would have predicted a team of recently-turned-professional cricketers would turn the tables on one of cricket’s powerhouses.

USA’s squad comprises cricketers who played in India, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand until a few years ago. The country’s cricket infrastructure is not among the best, and the World Cup is being staged in the United States by the International Cricket Council itself.

None of that had a say on the calm and professional demeanour of the team USA players as they pulled off the shock in Dallas to launch the biggest cricket party in the USA.

Players of the United States celebrate after their win [Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo]

2. Netherlands beat England: 2009

The first – and only – T20 World Cup opened at the home of cricket at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground with hosts England taking on so-called minnows, the Netherlands.

It all seemed to be going nicely for England when they posted a score of 163, which was considered well above par in the early days of T20 cricket, and the Netherlands lost their first wicket in the first over. However, the Dutch consolidated in the middle overs and a 60-run partnership between Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren brought them a famous victory under the grey evening sky at Lord’s.

Edgar Schiferli of Netherlands, second right, celebrates winning the match after Stuart Broad missed the stumps during their ICC World Twenty20 Cup match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on June 5, 2009 [Ian Kington/AFP]

3. Nepal beat Afghanistan: 2014

Nepal were making their debut at the T20 World Cup and had already registered one win over Hong Kong. However, Afghanistan were a team on the rise with several squad members playing league cricket around the world.

The likes of Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan were in the playing XI that was dismissed nine runs short of the target set by Paras Khadka’s Nepal.

Nepalese cricketers celebrate after defeating Afghanistan by nine runs during their ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on March 20, 2014 [Bikas Das/AP Photo]

4. Namibia beat Sri Lanka: 2022

While Namibia had been around on the associate cricket circuit for many years, for them to beat the 2014 T20 champions and 1996 50-over World Cup winners was a mean feat.

The Africans posted a fighting total of 163 and then produced a stunning bowling display to rattle Sri Lanka. The island nation were dismissed for 108 in 19 overs to set off the celebrations for Namibia.

Namibia’s and Sri Lanka’s players shake hands after their T20 World Cup match in Geelong, Australia [Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP Photo]

5. Afghanistan beat West Indies: 2016

West Indies went into the 2016 tournament as one of the favourites, with T20 stars Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Daren Sammy in their line-up.

Samuel Badree left their spin-bowling attack as they restricted Afghanistan to 123, but the Afghan spinners had plans of their own. Rashid Khan and Nabi took two wickets apiece to send the 2012 reeling as Afghanistan completed a famous six-wicket win.

The West Indies went on to lift the trophy a few days later, making Afghanistan’s feat all the more incredible.

Afghanistan’s cricketers celebrate their win over West Indies in the ICC World Twenty20 2016 in Nagpur, India [File: Saurabh Das/AP Photo]

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Preview: Pakistan vs USA at T20 World Cup – form, head-to-head, team news | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

Who: Pakistan vs USA
What: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group A match
When: Thursday, June 6, 10:30am local time (15:30 GMT)
Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, US
How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live text coverage from 12:30 GMT

USA will look to carry the momentum of their win in the opening match of the T20 World Cup when they meet an out-of-form Pakistan side in their Group A match in Dallas.

The co-hosts romped home to a seven-wicket win over their neighbours Canada, thanks to a belligerent knock by Aaron Jones, and USA’s captain Monank Patel believes his side can cause an early upset in the tournament by beating Pakistan on Thursday.

“It’s T20 [cricket], once we have good 30-40 minutes on the field, we can take the game away [from Pakistan],” Patel told reporters in his pre-match news conference.

“We have a vision to qualify in the Super Eight [stage] and want to focus on one game at a time,” he said.

The USA team comprises a mix of players, most of whom are of South Asian heritage. Jones, their hero in the first match, grew up in the Caribbean while they also have players who began their careers in South Africa and New Zealand.

Patel insists it is “good to have diversity” in the side but said they all come together when they plan for the USA.

USA will be wary of the challenge posed by the 2009 champions, especially their captain and star batter Babar Azam.

“Babar is a great batsman in all formats [of cricket] so his wicket will be really important,” Patel admitted.

USA’s strength lies in their experienced batting lineup but Patel said his side will face a stiff challenge from Pakistan’s pace attack, especially Mohammad Amir whom they will have to “tackle well.”

Amir, who is returning to a Pakistan World Cup squad after four years, said he wants to “chip in” with regular seamers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.

“I’ve come back to a great dressing room and we have very clear plans for each player,” Amir said in Wednesday’s news conference.

The 32-year-old, who was part of Pakistan’s title-winning side in 2009, said the team has moved on from their recent T20 series loss against England and are ready to start the tournament with a win.

“In World Cups, there’s no margin for error so we are mentally and physically ready to win.”

Pitch and weather conditions

The tournament’s opening match was played in Dallas and both teams were able to score in the 190s, which will be a good sign for fans who have been left concerned after the low-scoring encounters in New York.

The weather forecast is clear and sunny for the day match at the Grand Prairie Stadium.

Head-to-head

This will be the first meeting between the two sides in any format of cricket.

Form

Pakistan have had a mixed run going into the tournament, winning a T20 series away to Ireland but losing one against England last month.

USA will be brimming with confidence as they go into the match with a win in the bag and a 2-1 series win over Bangladesh last month.

Pakistan: L L W W L
USA: W L W W W

Pakistan team news

Pakistan will have to take a call on dropping experienced leg-spinner Shadab Khan to accommodate a four-man seam attack. They could also drop out-of-form wicketkeeper Azam Khan for top-order batter Saim Ayub.

Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

USA team news

USA are unlikely to tinker with the XI that brought them their first-ever World Cup win against Canada.

Squad: Monak Patel (captain), Shayan Jahangir, Andries Gous, Nitish Kumar, Steven Taylor, Harmeet Singh, Corey Anderson, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Jessy Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Nosthush Kenjige



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Can out-of-form Pakistan find a way to win the T20 World Cup? | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

The 2009 champions must overlook their chaotic lead-up to the World Cup and find form to have a shot at the semifinals.

Captain: Babar Azam
Fixtures: USA (June 6), India (June 9), Canada (June 11), Ireland (June 16)
Best finish at T20 World Cup: Champions (2009)

Pakistan enter the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on the back of a tumultuous period on and off the field, and their former leading pace bowler Umar Gul believes the chaotic preparations will hamper the team’s performance at the tournament.

Pakistan, the losing finalists of the T20 World Cup in 2022 had a dismal run at the 50-over World Cup in India in November as they failed to qualify for the semifinals and their captain Babar Azam stepped down from his role.

Off the field, the country’s cricket board has been run by four different chairpersons in the same period, the coaching staff has undergone several changes and the current chairperson has handed the captaincy back to Babar.

To make matters worse, in the 18-month period between the two T20 World Cups, Pakistan have won only nine of their 25 T20 international matches. Their only T20 series win came against Ireland, who are ranked five places below them on the ICC T20 team rankings.

All of these issues have compounded to give Pakistan far-from-ideal preparation for the biggest T20 World Cup yet.

“You cannot prepare long-term plans when there are so many changes,” Umar Gul told Al Jazeera.

The former fast bowler who was the leading wicket-taker when Pakistan won their only T20 World Cup in 2009.

“Continuity at all levels, including the captaincy, is important as [frequent] changes disrupt the team’s unity and players’ confidence,” Gul said.

[Al Jazeera]

Pakistan’s two problems: Lack of role clarity, middle-over rut

Pakistan have played plenty of T20 cricket, including their home T20 franchise league, since the 50-over World Cup but have failed to find form and uniformity in their team selection.

The national team’s selectors brought back fast bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim after convincing them to come out of their retirements for the T20 World Cup. In order to bolster the batting, the selectors also fast-tracked power-hitting batter Usman Khan, who had given up cricket in Pakistan and was on qualification pathway to play for the United Arab Emirates.

However, on-field success continues to elude them as they were blown away by England when they toured the defending champions for T20 series.

Gul, who played four T20 World Cups for Pakistan and is among the tournament’s all-time leading wicket-takers, believes Pakistan’s failures are down to rushed decisions and lack of role clarity

“The players must have been unsure about their spot and their role in the side because the squad was announced a week ahead of the tournament,” Gul said.

[Al Jazeera]

Amid all the chaos, Pakistan open their tournament campaign against co-hosts USA in Dallas on Thursday.

Their new coach Gary Kirsten, who linked up with the side before the tournament, will not have much time to sprinkle his World Cup winning magic but Pakistan fans would like to think otherwise and hope he helps the side pick up their scoring rate in the shortest format of the game.

Gul blames Pakistan’s lack of success on their poor batting and bowling during the middle overs.

“Pakistan’s run rate hovers around 7.5 but when we have done better in the middle overs, the team has posted 200-plus scores.

“When Pakistan bowl, Shaheen Shah Afridi bags wickets at the top of the order, but they are unable to get wickets in the middle overs.”

Gul is hopeful that Pakistan can go off on one of their logic-defying runs and make it to the semifinals – as they often do.

Gul’s three Pakistan players to watch

Saim Ayub: “Considering his high strike rate and great potential, Saim can be the X-factor for Pakistan.”

Fakhar Zaman: “When Fakhar gets going, he can win matches single-handedly.”

Shaheen Shah Afridi: “For his unrivalled ability to get crucial wickets from the onset.”

[Al Jazeera]

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Who are the five young players to watch at the ICC T20 World Cup? | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

Al Jazeera picks cricket’s brightest young ones who could leave their mark on the T20 World Cup 2024 in the US and the West Indies.

The world’s biggest sporting events are known for shining the limelight on the superstars that rule the game, but they also serve as a platform to unearth the brightest young talent in sport.

There are a few cricketers who entered the ICC T20 World Cup as relative unknowns but left the experts and fans in awe of their skills and potential by the end of the tournament.

Think, Shakib al-Hasan and Mohammad Amir at the 2009 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli at the 2012 edition and Wanindu Hasaranga in 2022.

Here’s Al Jazeera’s list of five young ones who could light up the 2024 edition of the tournament:

Yashasvi Jaiswal: India

Arguably India’s brightest young cricketer in the past year, Jaiswal has proved himself in the longest and shortest formats of the game. While the 23-year-old’s rags-to-riches story may have endeared him to fans, it is his batting and fearless approach towards the game that has put him in the limelight.

Within a year of making his T20 international debut, Jaiswal has scored more than 500 runs in 17 matches at an impressive average of 33.4 and a high strike rate of 161. He has even managed to score a T20I century to go with his four half-centuries.

The top-order batter is certain to open the innings for India with his experienced captain Rohit Sharma. And if India are to win a second T20 title that has eluded them in 17 years, a good portion of their runs may come off Jaiswal’s bat.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has hit 28 sixes in his T20 career [File: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]

Saim Ayub: Pakistan

In a country known for pushing young players at the deep end, Saim’s introduction to international cricket came relatively late. The left-handed batter played his first T20I at the age of 21 last year, but has been unable to plant his feet firmly in the playing XI. This has partly been down to his form, as well as due to Pakistan’s reluctance to break the opening batters’ bond between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Saim goes into the T20 World Cup with plenty of experience of playing in the West Indies, where he won the T20 Caribbean Premier League 2023 with his franchise Guyana Amazon Warriors. Saim’s 52 was the highest individual score in the final and he ended the season second on the batting charts.

While the opener has not been able to replicate his success for his country, his ability to hit unconventional big shots, offer a possible left-right opening combination and experience of playing in the region could make him a standout performer for the 2009 champions.

Saim Ayub has a strong leg-side game [File: Anjum Naveed/AP]

Will Jacks: England

Jacks made his international debut for England in 2022 as an off-spinner but goes into the T20 World Cup better known for his big-hitting abilities, thanks to his recent success with the bat in the Indian Premier League.

The 25-year-old all-rounder averaged 33 at an impressive strike rate of 175 in his eight matches with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He then followed it up with 57 runs in two matches in England’s recent T20 series against Pakistan.

Coming in to bat at the crucial one-down spot, Jacks will provide England stability and power-hitting options as they look to win a record third T20 World Cup.

Will Jacks will go into the T20 World Cup on the back of a good run in the IPL [File: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images via Reuters]

Matheesha Pathirana: Sri Lanka

Pathirana comes from the Lasith Malinga school of low-slingy fast bowling action and he has the guru’s backing.

“Matheesha, without any fears you can bring him in the last stages of an innings,” Malinga said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo. “His biggest weapons are his pace and his yorker but the biggest thing I see with Matheesha is his big heart.”

The 21-year-old has 28 wickets in his 18 international outings for Sri Lanka but his recent performance at the IPL has helped raise his stocks as well. Aside from his 13 wickets in six games, it is his low economy rate, average and strike rate that made him a standout performer.

The young gun could be Sri Lanka’s main weapon with the ball.

Matheesha Pathirana [File: KM Chaudary/AP]

Rishad Hossain: Bangladesh

Hossain is not so known in the international cricket arena but has quietly built a reputation as a miserly leg-spinning all-rounder who can get his side over the line with the bat too.

The tall leggie has taken 15 wickets in his 17 T20s, but at an economy rate of 7, which makes him a rare commodity in the big-hitting format of T20s.

The 21-year-old from Rangpur in northwestern Bangladesh could find plenty of assistance on the slow pitches in the Caribbean and may end up plotting Bangladesh’s path to the knockout stages of the tournament.

Rishad Hossain [File: Munir uz Zaman/AFP]

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