After almost four weeks of action across the country, it will come down to Sunday, between England and Pakistan, in Melbourne. The Final of the T20 World Cup 2022, 30 years after the two teams had contested the 1992 World Cup final at the same venue.
That night, it was Imran Khan’s Pakistan team that had emerged by 22 runs. Could Jos Buttler’s side now avenge that loss, and become the first team in history to hold the ODI World Cup trophy and T20 World Cup trophy simultaneously?
England are coming off what Jos Buttler termed as their best performance of the tournament: a 10-wicket thrashing of India in the semi-final, despite missing the likes of Mark Wood.
Standing in England’s way is the resurgent Pakistan team, who sneaked into the semis after losing their first two matches to India and Zimbabwe, but they too also brought up a clinical performance to defeat New Zealand by 7 wickets in the semi-final.
Both teams will be eyeing their second T20 world title; Pakistan won the 2009 T20 WC while England won it a year later.
ENG vs PAK pitch report, date, and time
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
ENG vs PAK Weather and pitch report
It’s all to play for now at the MCG on Sunday, but rain is also threatening to not only impact the game but even serve as a washout! The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia has forecasted a 100% chance of rain with 10-20mm expected including the chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe with heavy falls.
Thankfully, there is a reserve day on Monday, but the forecast for rain on that day is also spirit-dampening. For the unversed, the minimum length needed for a result in the final is 10 overs per side.
Coming to the pitch, the MCG has offered spicy, pace-friendly surfaces in the three matches played so far at this venue. There is a green on the surface a day out from the final, so expect the fast bowlers to be dominant, especially with the new ball and openers should be wary of the early movement.
Date and Time: November 13, 1.30 PM IST/07 PM Local
Telecast: Star Sports Network
ENG vs PAK predicted XI
If Dawid Malan is fit he will walk back in the line-up for Phil Salt, who didn’t get to bat in the semi-final. If Mark Wood is fit, he is likely to replace Chris Jordan, even though Jordan picked 3 wickets in the semis; England might also ponder on including David Willey, the swing bowler considering the larger square boundaries at the MCG over Jordan, whose fuller lengths were effective in Adelaide which had longer straight boundaries.
England predicted XI:
Jos Buttler (c&wk), Alex Hales, Phil Salt/Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan/Wood, Adil Rashid
Pakistan are expected to go with the same line-up that defeated New Zealand in the semi-final.
Pakistan predicted XI:
Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
ENG vs PAK Final prediction: Pakistan to win the Final vs England
Even though on paper England looks to have a strong batting line-up, their middle order just hasn’t been able to fire in the tournament, with the openers Buttler and Hales carrying the workload. Should the Pakistani fast bowlers get the better of the two openers on the spicy MCG track, it would be difficult for the rest of the England batters to put up a par score.
Pakistan, on the other hand, had been bailed out by their middle and lower-middle order in the Super 12 and now they have the openers and Shaheen back in form.
Them sneaking into the semis, and now the final seems to be the indication that Pakistan has a destiny with them. Qudrat ka nizam.
Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, knowledge, and instinct of the writer. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.