Round 3 of India-Pakistan in 2022 is only a fortnight away. Pakistani opener Mohammad Rizwan has already contested it as one of the high-pressure games despite having played India twice already this year.
The two sides will meet on October 23 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in their Super 12 group match.
The two teams met not too long ago – twice – during the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE. First, India beat Pakistan on the back of a superb all-round show from Hardik Pandya, but Babar Azam’s team had their revenge in the important Super 4 game as they clinched a last-over thriller.
Revenge will also be on India’s mind for the 10-wicket embarrassing defeat at last year’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Mohammad Rizwan has been in terrific form this year, and he continued it on Friday against Bangladesh in the tri-series opener in Christchurch, scoring 78* runs off 50 balls with the help of 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Rizwan’s knock helped Pakistan put up a total of 167, chasing which Bangladesh fell 21 runs short.
Speaking to the media after the match, Rizwan was queried about the pressure involved in the high-voltage clash against India at the T20 World Cup.
“Obviously pressure wala match hota hain India vs Pakistan ka so cheezon ko simple rakhne ka koshish karta hu. Pure team me iss tarah ka kaam hain ki India-Pakistan ka match he par pichele ek saal se jis tarah se matches huye hain mere khayal se koi itna difference nehi rahega. Haa World Cup ka match hain yeh humhare liye important he,” the Pakistani wicket-keeper said.
Mohammad Rizwan is the current number 1 ranked T20I batter. He is the second-leading run-scorer in T20Is in 2022: this year, Rizwan has scored 698 runs in 14 knocks at an average of 63 and strike rate of 130. He’s notched up 8 fifties in these 14 innings.
