In a major setback for Pakistan, opener Mohammad Rizwan and middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik are down with the flu and may miss the team’s semi-final clash against Australia in the ongoing ICC men’s section. t20 world cup, here on Thursday.
According to a report in Pakistan’s Geo News, both Malik and Rizwan did not come for practice on the eve of the semi-finals due to flu. Both of them have tested negative for Covid-19, however, the doctor has advised them to take rest.
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A final decision on his participation will be taken after the medical examination on Thursday morning.
Both Rizwan and Malik are an integral part of Pakistan’s batting unit. Rizwan, a particularly aggressive opener, has been in form in his life and has scored 214 runs in five matches in the ongoing World Cup.
Malik, on the other hand, has shown his class at different stages during this tournament and has scored significant runs in the middle order. He scored 50 runs in just 18 balls against Scotland, joint-fastest in this World Cup with KL Rahul.
Pakistan will hope that both its leading batsmen will be available for marquee matches. And if they become unavailable, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Haider Ali can replace Malik and Rizwan in the playing XI.
Babar Azam-led Pakistan are the only team unbeaten in the current tournament so far, having won all five games.
This will be Pakistan’s fifth appearance in the T20 WC semi-final. The 2009 champions have reached this level in four editions (2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012).
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