The third and last T20 match of the Independence Cup series has gained the status of a ‘finale’ as both the finalists teams will be aiming to strike a win to become the winner of the mega event.
The event has its own significance as the World XI is a galaxy of top notch cricketers drawn from seven countries and youthful Pakistan team is the winner of Champions Trophy and in the given circumstances the clash between the two teams has been dubbed as a thrilling final.
Pakistani side will be defying a tough challenge from best players of the different countries and the World XI on the other hand will be eager to beat the home side to salvage its pride and to get the title.
Both the rival captains have expressed their resolve to win the third and the last match of the series which stand locked at 1-1 after the home side beat the World XI by 20 runs in the opener. The touring side took the sweet revenge by winning the following tie by seven wickets in front of a full house at the Gaddafi Stadium.
“It is a very important match for us and we will be going all out to win the match as the series is leveled at 1-1 and the match has become equally important for the both sides to claim the series title,” said Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmad while talking to APP. He said the team must show consistency which will be only possible when all the players exhibit their best game.
“I have urged the fellow colleague to give their one hundred per cent and should not repeat the errors which they committed in the second match,” he added.
Sarfraz asked the team members to lift the level of their overall game, specially fielding to save runs and called upon the Pakistan pace battery to bowl with more vigor and accuracy to shatter the confidence of opponents experienced batting line up.
“Beating the World XI is a tough task ,but we are in the right mindset to achieve this objective the way we did in the opening match of the series,” he said.
World XI captain Faf du Plessis said: “We made a coma back in the second match after learning from our mistakes in the first game and we will playing the last game with a similar mind set to achieve our set goals.
“It is not going to be easy at all for us as Pakistan team has the added advantage of home ground and crowd and it has also the ability to fight back due to some good players in the side and we have to overcome all these challenges for a winning way,” he added.
He said World XI comprises players from different countries and they took time to gel like a team and he is confident that team will be giving a good show in the last match.
To a question he said he and his teammates are enjoying playing cricket in Pakistan and they are very happy to be here.
“Pakistani people are very carrying and loving and we received big encouragement and support from them in the two matches and we look forward to similar gesture from them in the last match as well,” he said.
Teams (from) World XI: Faf du Plessis , Captain, (South Africa), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Samuel Badree (Windies),
George Bailey (Australia), Paul Collingwood (England), Ben Cutting (Australia), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh),David Miller (South Africa), Morne Morkel (South Africa),Tim Paine (wicketkeeper). (Australia),Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka),Darren Sammy (Windies) and Imran Tahir (South Africa).
Pakistan:
Sarfraz Ahmad (captain/wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Baber Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Amir Yamin, Ruman Raees, Usman Shinwari and Sohail Khan.
