ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Brian Lara Predicts Pakistan To Win Against Australia In Semi Final

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara predicted that Pakistan will get the better of Australia in the second semi-final match.

Pakistan have made five wins in a row in Group 2 to continue their winning streak in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan are unbeaten in UAE since 2015 in T20Is and have taken their tally to 16 wins in the Gulf nation.

Pakistan-Australia to meet in semis of T20 World Cup

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has led the side from the front, scoring 264 runs from five innings at the strike rate of 128.16.

He equalled his counterpart Aaron Finch and Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s record of scoring four T20I half-centuries in a single edition of the World T20.

Pakistan bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf have been brilliant when it comes to picking wickets and shifting the pressure on the opposition.

Meanwhile, Australia, who came in the tournament on back-to-back defeats against West Indies and Bangladesh, showed their team strength with the return of senior players in their camp.

Finch and his men won four out of five games to qualify for the semis on a better net run-rate to South Africa from Group 1.

Australia is a very dangerous team: Brian Lara

Lara believes that Australia have the calibre to defeat any time, but in the upcoming game, they will find it difficult to go past the Pakistan team.

“Australia is a very dangerous team. They’ve got a strong lineup that can beat anyone. But Pakistan has the bowling & batting prowess to keep them at bay & make the finals,” Lara tweeted.

Earlier in the day, reports emerged that Pakistan might miss the services of wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and veteran all-rounder, Shoaib Malik.

According to a report by Geo News, both the players have caught flu, and their condition will be examined before the team management takes any decision about their availability.

Pakistan and Australia have met 23 times in T20Is, with the Asian side holding the edge with 13 wins. Both teams have won three games in T20 World Cup, and this will be their seventh time in the showpiece event.

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Facing Australia In Semi-Finals Will Give Us Butterflies: Shoaib Malik