Indian player Yuvraj Singh checks his helmet during a practice session at The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, yesterday. India plays against Pakistan today in the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament.
DHAKA: The World Twenty20 steps up a gear today as cricket’s top eight sides enter the fray, with Pakistan seeking a historic win against India in the second round’s standout clash.
Minnows of international cricket have been slogging it out in the expanded 16-nation tournament, with two qualifying spots and a chance to join the big boys up for grabs from round one.
In the Super-10 stage, Asian giants Pakistan and India will be joined in Group Two by the West Indies, Australia and one of the successful qualifiers.
The other qualifier will join South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand in Group One with two sides from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
The identity of the two qualifiers from round one will be known just hours before Pakistan bid to defeat arch rivals India for the first time at the World Twenty20.
“It has nothing to do with history,” Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez told a packed media conference in Dhaka on yesterday.
“Beating India will be important because a good start will give us momentum in the tournament.
“I am glad we are playing India first up. We are all excited about this game. The morale is good because we beat them in the Asia Cup. But we have to be at our best to win.”
Pakistan qualified for the semi-finals in all four editions of the World Twenty20, winning the tournament in 2009 in England after being runners-up to India in the inaugural event in 2007.
India, however, have not made the semi-finals since their title win despite the popularity of the T20 Indian Premier League over the last six years.
For Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, previous results will be irrelevant when the teams take to the field at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in the Bangladeshi capital today evening.
“Nothing of the past matters in this game,” he said, reminding critics that India lost just one game at the 2012 edition and yet failed to make the knock-out rounds.AFP
