Web desk: The cricket world held its breath for a week when Pakistan threatened to boycott its T20 World Cup group stage match against India. Back channel talks resolved the dispute between stakeholders and eased the tension. On Sunday evening at the R Premadasa Stadium the two rivals will meet and the atmosphere should erupt. Pakistan versus India in a T20 World Cup is more than a game. It is the contest that keeps the sport alive for millions. Whatever the result the match will remind fans why they fell in love with cricket.
The venue adds its own significance. The Premadasa Stadium has staged many memorable encounters but rarely one with such weight. Organisers prepared a used pitch likely the same surface where Zimbabwe defeated Australia on Friday. The track plays slow and offers grip and low bounce. The ball holds on the surface and turns slightly which benefits bowlers who vary pace and angle. Spin rather than outright speed will shape the contest.
Both teams have adapted to these conditions. India plan to rely on Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin and Axar Patel’s control and may include Kuldeep Yadav whose wrist spin has troubled Pakistan in recent years. Pakistan will respond with Shadab Khan Abrar Ahmed Mohammad Nawaz and the experienced off spinner Usman Tariq.
Usman Tariq has drawn attention throughout the tournament because of his unusual bowling action. His brief pause at the crease and low arm release make the ball skid or dip unexpectedly and unsettle batters. Officials reported him twice during the competition but later cleared him on both occasions. Captain Salman Ali Agha calls him the trump card. In spin friendly Colombo conditions he could decide the match. If he executes his variations effectively even India’s middle order including Suryakumar Yadav Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh may struggle to find boundaries.
Pakistan must also resolve questions around their pace attack. Shaheen Shah Afridi leads the bowling unit and has delivered in major matches. Salman Mirza has impressed in recent games by generating swing and maintaining pace. Conditions may not offer much movement yet the management faces a clear decision on whether to field both bowlers or select Mirza based on current form. The final choice will show whether experience or performance data shapes the playing eleven.
Pakistan’s batting still shows familiar weaknesses. The top order performed well in the first two matches as Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub provided solid starts. However Salman Agha and former captain Babar Azam need to contribute more consistently. India bring a strong batting lineup so any collapse could prove costly. Abhishek Sharma missed the previous match because of illness but doctors have cleared him and he insists he feels fit. If he takes his place at the top his aggressive approach could quickly put Pakistan under pressure.
Weather may also influence the game. Colombo has experienced humid conditions and forecasters predict a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. Rain could fall earlier in the day though the evening should remain mostly dry under cloudy skies. Temperatures will likely stay around 27 to 28 degrees Celsius with humidity in the low to mid seventies.
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