Pakistan skipper Babar Azam

Inasmuch as victory and defeat are an inevitable part of sport, Pakistan will take time to come to terms with their loss to the Americans. This was a contest not among equals, but through their own sloppiness allied with their opponents’ spunk and desire, Pakistan stumbled to an embarrassing defeat. Now, with time not exactly an ally, they most rouse themselves against their longest, most fierce rivals, a task not beyond Babar Azam’s men.

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Confident Indians

India, though, hold a 6-1 advantage in the T20 World Cup head-to-heads and will be quietly confident of reprising their professional display against Ireland on Wednesday. They have played twice at the Nassau County Stadium, whose drop-in pitches have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. After running repairs by the ICC following heavy criticism of the tracks used for the first two outings, the surface behaved slightly better on Friday when Canada shocked Ireland, though one can’t be sure what will greet India and Pakistan until the first few deliveries are sent down.

Huge toss factor

The toss was a huge factor in South Africa’s dismissal of Sri Lanka and India’s mastery of Ireland; it will have a big say on Sunday too, undoubtedly, given the quality of pace attacks at the disposal of Babar and Rohit Sharma. Jasprit Bumrah has announced himself with the Player of the Match award against the Irish while Shaheen Shah Afridi and his ilk will be desperate to redeem themselves after a sub-par performance against the Americans, who only lost three wickets during regulation play.

Pakistan will be wary of Virat Kohli, as much as anyone else. Kohli has loved picking off the Pakistani bowling and, after a rare failure the other day, will eye a return to run-making ways to celebrate his elevation to the top of the order to partner Rohit, who allayed injury concerns with a long batting stint at Cantiague Park on Friday afternoon.

7
No. of games India and Pakistan have played against each other in T20 WC. India have won six and lost once against the arch-rivals