T20 Cricket World Cup 2016: India vs Pakistan in Kolkata

By Rida Zaheer
Cricket Diplomacy between India and Pakistan failed when extremists RSS under the umbrella of ruling Janta Party has countrywide launched protest against Pakistan Cricket Team and threatened to dig the pitches, if neighbor team visit India with regard to T-20 Cricket World Cup—2016 . In this regard Dharamsala was named as the venue on December 11 last year. Political tensions and security concerns in the weeks preceding the World Twenty20, however, left the administrators and fans in a limbo: ‘Will they, won’t they?’. People starting claiming that probably India-Pakistan rivalry is bigger than the Ashes.
Both sides have played just a match in the World T20 so far, Pakistan smashed Bangladesh whereas India lost her match against New Zealand. Pakistan top order batsmen are now in performing well and her pacers are better than Indian side. Shoaib Malik is back to slip in to a similar role, and can also bind the innings if there is a (familiar) implosion.
Interestingly Pakistan always performed well in Kolkata and even beat in India. Though home crowed matter a lot for all the teams but at the same time proved other way round too. Therefore, India team would me under tremendous pressure while playing against Pakistan in Kolkata. Imran Khan, former cricket super star and chief of Pakistani political party , PTI , another renowned Pakistani political figure Sheikh Rashid, Pakistan embassy officials who were earlier denied permission of visiting Kolkata would be visiting today match. Many Bollywood stars are also going to witness the match,
The Kolkata track for the Afghanistan-Sri Lanka match offered the spinners grip and slow turn. The quick fizzers and googlies from Rashid Khan, a legspinner in the mould of Afridi, also skidded on and tied down the opposition. A similar pitch is in the offing and the weather is expected to be fine for the duration of the game.
The last time Pakistan played a T20 international in India, in 2012, Yuvraj clattered 72 off 36 balls. Afridi needs two wickets to surpass Lasith Malinga as the overall leading wicket-taker in the World T20.
Both countries have played Pakistan 10 times in the 50-over World Cup and the World T20. According to the predictions Pakistani side is stronger and likely to win the match in Kolkata.
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