pakistan 
United Arab Emirates –
The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is reaching its business end – with two more matches to go.
On Wednesday, New Zealand booked their slot in the final with an emphatic 5-wicket win over England.
Now, it is Pakistan’s turn to fight it out with Australia.
Pakistan’s semi-final is slated for Thursday evening and is set to be played at Dubai.
Aaron Finch’s Australian juggernaut has been through just one loss, while Babar Azam’s team is unbeaten in the tournament. With dew expected late in the evening, toss is set to play an important role in shaping the contest.
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Pakistan holds a clear edge over Australia in head-to-head matches, winning 12 and losing 9. It merits mentioning that both teams have skilled players – batters and bowlers – and have everything covered. Thus, it will all come down to performances on the day.
Former West Indies batting legend Brian Charles Lara has made his prediction for the match. Lara has picked Azam’s side to go through to the final. He said that Pakistan’s power-hitting and pace attack makes them the favourites for tonight.
On the other hand, Pakistani cricketers Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Rizwan have been declared fit to play the T20 World Cup semi-final.
In a relieving update, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said a medical panel reviewed their fitness and confirmed their participation in the crucial encounter.
Pakistan’s team Manager Mansoor Rana also confirmed that the players were feeling better.
“Shoaib and Rizwan want to feature in the semi-final,” Rana said.
Their participation in today’s game became doubtful after the in-form players caught the flu, sources said.
Their COVID-19 tests returned negative, but the doctors had advised them to rest. Worries were flared when Malik and Rizwan did not attend the last practice session and stayed at the hotel.
