Mohammad Rizwan became the first batsman to complete 1000 T20I runs in the same calendar year, following a string of consistent performances.
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Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is now the first-ever batsman to accumulate 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year. Rizwan achieved this unique distinction during the nation’s T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final against Australia on Thursday. The 29-year-old made his presence felt against the latter, smashing a fine half-century. Rizwan accumulated his 11th fifty in T20I cricket, which was his third of the T20 World Cup 2021 as well as the 10th half-century in 2021. The 29-year-old surpassed Chris Gayle’s record of most T20 runs in a calendar year, earlier in the ongoing prestigious tournament.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam further surpassed Team India captain Virat Kohli in the encounter against Australia, to become the fastest batsman to complete 2500 runs in the shortest format of international cricket. Azam reached the landmark in 62 innings. Kohli had reached the same tally in 68 innings.
Australia skipper Aaron Finch opted to field after winning the toss in the T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final against Pakistan. Finch has won the toss for the fifth time in six matches in the prestigious tournament. Australia have chased on all five instances and emerged victorious in the previous four. Pakistan captain Babar Azam has gone with an unchanged lineup, marking the sixth consecutive instance of the nation fielding an unchanged XI. No full member nation has gone ahead with such a move in as many T20Is in succession.
“We will bowl. The wicket will not change a lot over the course of the game. The guys are relaxed, there’ll be obvious nerves. This pitch has played true right through the IPL and the World Cup and expect more of the same tonight, no changes in the playing XI,” said Finch as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Azam stated that his players will look to put runs on the board.
“We will bowl. The wicket will not change a lot over the course of the game. The guys are relaxed, there’ll be obvious nerves. This pitch has played true right through the IPL and the World Cup and expect more of the same tonight, no changes in the playing XI,” stated the Pakistan skipper.
Veteran Mohammad Hafeez stated that he and the other members of the setup were mentally and physically ready for the encounter.
“As a team we are proud of our journey. We are mentally and physically ready for this match. The pressure is the game. Different guys are taking responsibility and the guys are responding really well, which is why this team is very special. We are very relaxed, we have prepared ourselves very well and are very confident in looking forward to the challenge. Pressure is always high in ICC events. People want you to win no matter what. We have done a great job so far and hopefully we will continue with this momentum in the next two games,” he said.
Lineups:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi.
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
