India take on Pakistan in the most highly-anticipated group match of the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York.
Pakistan were left reeling after a shock super-over defeat to the United States in Dallas on Thursday and will have to bounce back in one of the fiercest rivalries in sport.
Only two teams will qualify from Group A and India started their campaign with a dominant victory over Ireland, as they went into the tournament among the favourites, despite not having won a major international event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
However, there have been serious questions raised about the playing surface on the pop-up stadium in Nassau County, with the ICC admitting the pitch is not up to standard and would be subject to ‘remedies’ before the flagship game.
Follow all the live action in the blog below.
India v Pakistan – rain delay
We only had six balls but what a six balls they were…
Luke Baker9 June 2024 16:47
RAIN STOPS PLAY! India 8-0 (1 over) – Rohit 8; Kohli 0
Uh oh, it’s drizzling again and the umpires wave the players off the field! The fun being spoilt once again. Hopefully it’s just a quick passing shower.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 16:27
India 8-0 (1 over) – Rohit 8; Kohli 0
Afridi steams in for the first ball of the match and Rohit flicks the ball to leg. The outfield is glacially slow and they take two. The fielder on the boundary caught out that the ball didn’t run to them.
Third ball of the match sees the first SIX – stunning timing, Rohit flicks it off his legs, in front of square and the ball flies into the stands! One flick of the wrists was all it took.
Afridi responds well with a couple of dot balls and then a big appeal for lbw off the final ball but Pakistan choose not to review. Eight from the over.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 16:25
India v Pakistan
Overcast conditions and a pitch that has proven to be tough to score on suggests this could be a battle of the bowlers.
Shaheen Afridi will bowl the first over for Pakistan, with Rohit Sharma to face and Virat Kohli at the non-striker’s end.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 16:21
India v Pakistan
The rain has stopped, the players are out and the anthems are done. LET’S PLAY CRICKET!
Luke Baker9 June 2024 16:18
India v Pakistan – rain delay
The rain is easing, so we should be one for a 4.20pm start now. That would still allow us to get a full 20 overs per side game in.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 16:03
India v Pakistan – rain delay
Boo! The rain is back in New York – that 4pm start isn’t going to be happening.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 15:53
India v Pakistan team news
India unchanged from the side that beat Ireland and Pakistan make just one change to their XI after the Ireland defeat. Imad Wasim comes in for Azam Khan. It means Mohammad Rizwan will likely go behind the stumps.
India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
Pakistan XI: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir
Luke Baker9 June 2024 15:37
India v Pakistan – Pakistan win the toss and elect to field
The atmosphere even for the toss is raucous! Babar Azam wins it – first blood to Pakistan and they elect to field. Not a surprise given the overcast conditions.
India skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledges they would have had a bowl as well if they’d won the toss.
Luke Baker9 June 2024 15:33
India v Pakistan – new toss time and start time
Ok, it’s good news! The toss will now take place at 3.30pm BST (seven minutes’ time) with a start time of 4pm BST, so only 30 minutes delay. We’ll take that!
Luke Baker9 June 2024 15:23