The iconic Pakistan versus India clash in the Super 12 stage (MCG) at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022!

[MenInG]

Let the hype begin!

So Pakistan will be looking to assure everyone that their win in the UAE wasn't a fluke whilst India will want to re-establish their ascendancy.

A few months to go but lets start talking about this.

==

Over the years, the two teams have produced some high-octane clashes at the world stage, with India holding an edge. But Babar Azam's Pakistan bounced back brilliantly in the last edition of the tournament, as they produced a near-perfect performance in Dubai to clinch their first-ever victory against India in a World Cup. India, led by Rohit Sharma, will now be keen to hit back hard and assert their dominance again versus their neighbours.

As the world waits with bated breath and Melbourne gets ready to host 100,000 spectators for the contest, we take a look at the history of the India v Pakistan clash over the years at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.


Durban, 2007

Bowl-out in group stages, India beat Pakistan 3-0

The first-ever encounter between India and Pakistan in T20 World Cup history — during the inaugural edition of the tournament — turned out to be an intense battle as the match went right down to the wire. Rohit Sharma's half-century, and vital contributions from MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan down the order, helped India to a total of 141/9.

Pakistan would have fancied their chances to chase the target down, but the Indian bowlers did a good job to pick up early wickets. Even though Misbah-ul-Haq threatened to take the match away from India with a fifty, India held their nerves and the match ended in a tie. But India were declared the winners eventually after they won the bowl-out, a system used to break ties in the format in its early days.


Johannesburg, 2007

ICC World T20 2007: India beat Pakistan in the final

India and Pakistan locked horns again in the same edition, this time in the final, and it turned out to be quite a spectacle as the arch-rivals fought right until the last over once again. Gautam Gambhir played a magnificent knock of 75 at the top of the order and another good cameo of an unbeaten 30 from Rohit Sharma helped India in posting a challenging target of 158 for Pakistan.

Imran Nazir got Pakistan off to a flying start scoring 33 off just 14 deliveries. But the fall of wickets at regular intervals after he was run out didn't help Pakistan's cause. Misbah-ul-Haq barely kept them afloat in the contest taking the match down to the last over, with Pakistan needing 13 runs to win and India needing a wicket. The pressure was straight back on India when he hit Joginder Sharma for a six off the second delivery of the last over, but he miscued a scoop off the very next delivery to hand over an easy catch to Sreesanth at Short fine-leg. With that wicket, Pakistan were bowled out and India became the inaugural T20 World Cup Champions.


Colombo, 2012

India and Pakistan met in the group stages of the 2012 edition again. It turned out to be a one-sided encounter this time as Pakistan got bowled out for a paltry total of 128, with Lakshmipathy Balaji claiming bowling figures of 3/22. Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh also bowled well as they claimed a couple of wickets each. Even though India lost an early wicket in the form of Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli took them home safely with an unbeaten knock of 78 off just 61 deliveries. India won the match by eight wickets and 18 deliveries to spare.


Dhaka, 2014

India beat Pakistan by eight wickets

Their contest during the group stages of the 2014 edition turned out to be a one-sided affair once again. India restricted Pakistan to a paltry total of 130/7. Amit Mishra bowled brilliantly as he bamboozled the Pakistani batters with his wrist-spin, registering figures of 2/22 in his four overs. India chased the target down comfortably once again, with Kohli and Suresh Raina remaining unbeaten on 36 and 35 respectively. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma also made valuable contributions of 30 and 24 at the top of the order, as India won by seven wickets and nine deliveries remaining.


Kolkata, 2016

India emerged victorious once again in this shortened game of 18 overs per side, after rain delayed the start of the game. Pakistan could muster a total of only 118/5 in their quota of overs as the Indian bowlers bowled tight lines and lengths throughout the innings. India in response lost both of their openers early, but Virat Kohli rose to the occasion again as he remained unbeaten on 55 off just 37 deliveries to take India home with six wickets and 13 balls remaining.


Dubai, 2021

Pakistan finally broke their winless streak in the T20 World Cup against India as they registered a comprehensive 10-wicket victory against their arch-rivals during their group-stage encounter in Dubai. After a difficult start induced by Shaheen Shah Afridi's new-ball spell, which claimed the wickets of both KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, Kohli's fifty and Rishabh Pant's valuable contribution of 39 helped India to a total of 151/7.

But Pakistan's openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan produced a magnificent batting performance as they remained unbeaten on 68 and 79 respectively to chase down the target with 13 balls remaining.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2454219

 

[HarunPakCricket]

The Crowd is going to be amazing.Pitches will suit Babar and even Rizwan is strong square of the wicket. What a game this will be.

 

[MenInG]

Will be a sellout - should feel like India with a lot of Indians living in Australia?

 

[sweep_shot]

I have a feeling Pakistan may win again. India have regressed in LOI formats while Pakistan have improved.

Also, victory in 2021 World T20 should be a confidence booster.

 

[hitthestump]

Pakistan won't have the pace attack for Australian surfaces. Rauf and Hasan Ali will still be inconsistent. Dhani and Wasim won't be experienced enough to replace them.

Pakistan made the most of their edge on UAE pitches but in Australia expect Indian dominance to prevail.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

It will be an authentic thriller.

Let's go Pakistan!

PS: ICC strategically making sure at least 1 Pak v Ind game to earn extra money

 

[MenInG]

For the longest time many have thought of the Ashes between England and Australia as the biggest rivalry in cricket. However, over time India-Pakistan cricket matches have usurped that title. The one-sided nature of the recently-concluded Ashes in Australia, only proved that point further. The sort of buzz that India vs Pakistan matches create and the viewership it pulls in, few sporting events can match it. Despite the numbers and the interest that India-Pak matches generate, not many Australian or England cricketers will admit that the Ashes rivalry is now inferior to it.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, however, did so on Friday and stated that the Ashes is "not" the biggest game in world cricket.

"I think, we being England and Australia ex-players, we all kind of think of the Ashes as the biggest game in world cricket, it's not! India vs Pakistan is the biggest game. Looking forward to Rohit Sharma being the captain, probably the first time he's going to be under real pressure. It's going to be an epic event," Vaughan said on a Star Sports show.

India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry is back in the spotlight after the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the fixture list for the men's T20 World Cup 2022, slated to take place in Australia from October 16 to November 13.

Like 2021, India and Pakistan have been clubbed together in the same group. India will, in fact, open their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign against Pakistan on October 23 at the famed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Speaking about the India vs Pakistan matches, former Australia wicketkeeper-batter said that India will be fired up for the game.

In the T20 World Cup 2021, held in Dubai last year, Pakistan recorded their first win over India in World Cups, beating Virat Kohli's team by 10 wickets.

"Huge rivalry. We all know about that. India will be particularly fired up given what happened back in November where Pakistan registered a 10-wicket victory. So, the rivalry just grows and what a venue to have," said Adam Gilchrist.

The two teams have faced each other a total of six times in the history of the men's T20 World Cup, with India winning five of those matches.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/men...-on-india-vs-pakistan-cricket-rivalry-2721482

 

[Varun]

Nice opportunity for Pakistan to begin the tournament with a bang.

 

[Civil]

Excited for this match, India performs well on Australian pitches so Pakistan will have to be on top of their game, we fell short in UAE of winning the cup hopefully we can redeem ourselves with a good performance.

Sidenote: Ind and Pak might as well just start playing bilateral again? The whole point of only playing in multi nation tournaments was that you can't decide your opponents. but at this point if you tell me the year a tournament is being played and what is the opening day, I can correctly predict an India vs Pakistan match

Also the format for these mini tourneys (T20, champions) is basically trying to ensure two matches per tourney for Ind and Pak which might as well be like scheduling a bilateral in the FTP lol.

 

[pillionrider]

So bye bye to some posters' theories that India would be too scared to face Pakistan again in their opening game?

Barring injury, Rohit will be leading. Good venue to begin the new T20 streak. After all, The Streak began in Australia

 

[Varun]

Excited for this match, India performs well on Australian pitches so Pakistan will have to be on top of their game, we fell short in UAE of winning the cup hopefully we can redeem ourselves with a good performance.

Sidenote: Ind and Pak might as well just start playing bilateral again? The whole point of only playing in multi nation tournaments was that you can't decide your opponents. but at this point if you tell me the year a tournament is being played and what is the opening day, I can correctly predict an India vs Pakistan match

Also the format for these mini tourneys (T20, champions) is basically trying to ensure two matches per tourney for Ind and Pak which might as well be like scheduling a bilateral in the FTP lol.

That's the ulterior motive. Even the Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE was basically scheduled to be a 3-match Indo-Pak ODI series.

 

[Mp812]

Isn't that game exactly 1 year after last T20 game between both of them? Coincidence eh?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Honestly beating India at the G will be even more amazing. There's no way they can recreate the last performance which was perfect in almost every way. But to win such a big game on infront of 90000 people on one of the most important cricket grounds in the world...that would be something.

 

[Kroll]

I don't like this at all, the way these matches are always fixed to help bring revenue to ICC. Always being put in the same group has been milked to death, they should allow a fair draw to take place.

 

[Kroll]

So bye bye to some posters' theories that India would be too scared to face Pakistan again in their opening game?

Barring injury, Rohit will be leading. Good venue to begin the new T20 streak. After all, The Streak began in Australia

LOL, as soon as this fixture was announced India already going through the analysis of how to beat Pakistan, wouldn't surprise me if they've rolled out Deep Blue to run through the computations.

 

[Kaddy]

How and why India and Pakistan always end up in one group.

I thought groups were on the basis of rankings.

 

[MenInG]

The schedule for the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup is out and once again the India vs Pakistan clash is going to be the biggest highlight of the group stage. The two arch-rivals will face each other in the opening clash of the tournament. The neighbouring countries shared a fierce rivalry on the cricket field but in recent times, they have faced each other only in ICC tournaments due to political tensions. The last time when the two teams clashed, Pakistan outclassed India in the 2021 T20 WC group stage clash. It was India’s first defeat to Pakistan in the ICC WC events.

The cricket fans love to see the two teams playing against each other as their on-field rivalry has arguably no match in the cricketing world and ICC has been cashing hard on the same in recent times.

Starting with the 2012 T20 World Cup, the two teams have been potted in the same group in every ICC tournament so far - 2013 Champions Trophy, 2015 ODI WC, 2017 CT, 2019 ODI WC, 2021 T20 WC and now 2022 T20 WC in Australia.

Putting the two teams in the same group might give ICC some assurance of a jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground which has a massive 90,000 capacity. India vs Pakistan clash has the capability to fill any stadium with fans.

Apart from that, the mega clash also helped the broadcasters to shoot up their TRP.

The 2021 WC clash between two teams clocked a record reach of 167 million viewers, making it the most viewed T20 International till date, the official broadcaster of the event claimed.

“With a reach of 167 million, the highly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on October 24th, an event that saw the arch-rivals meet at an ICC tournament after two years, is now the most viewed T20I match, exceeding the previous

high–India-West Indies 2016 ICC World T20 semi-finals," the release said.

“The India-Pakistan match has created history by clocking a record reach of 167 million viewers, making it the most viewed T20I match till date," a Star India spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the knockout contest is expected to engage more viewership as compared to the group stage but there is always uncertainty over the fixtures of knockout stages and ICC might not want to take that risk.

In Group 2, India and Pakistan will be accompanied by South Africa and Bangladesh and the winner of Group B and runners-up of Group A.

After clashing with Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India will take on Group A runner-up on October 27 at the SCG and then square off against South Africa in Perth followed by Bangladesh on November 2 (Adelaide Oval) and then Group B winner on November 6 at the MCG.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...same-group-of-2022-t20-world-cup-4684121.html

 

[MenInG]

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the schedule for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022, which will be played in Australia later this year. While the qualifiers will begin from October 16, the Super 12 stage will commence from October 22. Hosts and defending champions Australia will play New Zealand in the first match of the main event at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). However, the main attraction will be the game between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23.

When India play Pakistan, it's more than just a game of cricket. Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has also expressed his excitement regarding the India-Pakistan tie at the MCG.

While speaking on Star Sports, Steyn said that he can't wait to see India and Pakistan face off, adding that "it's going to be absolutely crazy" when the two teams meet later this year in front of a jam-packed crowd.

"It's Going To Be Crazy. Just the game aside, it's incredible. MCG is one of favourite venues to play cricket. We played against India at the 2015 World Cup at the MCG. It was so loud when I tried to call whoever it was at mid-on from the middle, they couldn't hear me. Now you turn the tables a little bit with Pakistan involved. It's going to be absolutely crazy," he said.

India and Pakistan met during the T20 World Cup last year in the UAE. It was a one-sided affair as Pakistan won the game by 10 wickets at the Dubai International Stadium.

It was Pakistan's first win over India in a World Cup match in any format.

India will aim for payback when the two sides meet at the iconic MCG later this year.

The MCG is one of the seven venues reserved for the tournament. The SCG in Sydney, the Optus Stadium in Perth, the Adelaide Oval, the Gabba in Brisbane, the Blundstone Arena in Hobart and the Kardinia Park in Geelong are the other venues for the tournament.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/its...ourne-cricket-ground-in-t20-world-cup-2721573

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Hopefully our players don’t get too carried away after the thrashing they gave to India last year.

Our journalists are known to ask stupid questions and our players more often than not fall for it. Over the years, we’ve seen our bowlers talk about what they’ll do to Indian batsmen etc. please don’t. Focus on yourselves and not them.

Two consecutive wins over India in ICC events could lead to Akshay Kumar going into self destructive mode..

 

[Osama Shafeeqe]

Got tickets to the game. Finally able to witness a India vs Pakistan World Cup game in person. Hopefully I don't jinx them, every time I've watched a proper game involving Pakistan, they have always lost.

 

[Slim]

I personally dont mind ICC fixing the fixtures to have at least one Indo Pak match. We as fans of cricket deserve this spectacle. I hope we win again, and this will be more sweeter as i felt bad for Virat - this time i wont have to feel bad for anyone.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Pakistan won't have the pace attack for Australian surfaces. Rauf and Hasan Ali will still be inconsistent. Dhani and Wasim won't be experienced enough to replace them.

Pakistan made the most of their edge on UAE pitches but in Australia expect Indian dominance to prevail.

Rauf literally started his career on the back of his performances in BBL. No bowler we have right now have played more games at MCG than Rauf. With Shaheen, Dahani and Hasnain the bowling won't be bad.

 

[Zeshan547]

Rauf literally started his career on the back of his performances in BBL. No bowler we have right now have played more games at MCG than Rauf. With Shaheen, Dahani and Hasnain the bowling won't be bad.

Shaheen Dhani and Rauf, no team will have collectively such pace attack, maybe Only Oz but even they will have less combined average speed.

 

[hitthestump]

Rauf literally started his career on the back of his performances in BBL. No bowler we have right now have played more games at MCG than Rauf. With Shaheen, Dahani and Hasnain the bowling won't be bad.

True, but the BBL is an average level competition. Rauf can't get two balls in the same spot in any conditions, he's still going to be prone to a phainta at the international level. Same with Hasan Ali.

 

[ARK Rafay]

True, but the BBL is an average level competition. Rauf can't get two balls in the same spot in any conditions, he's still going to be prone to a phainta at the international level. Same with Hasan Ali.

His WT20 2020 Performace doesn't say though.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I personally dont mind ICC fixing the fixtures to have at least one Indo Pak match. We as fans of cricket deserve this spectacle. I hope we win again, and this will be more sweeter as i felt bad for Virat - this time i wont have to feel bad for anyone.

You will most likely feel bad about stump mic this time.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Tickets are sold out for this I am hearing. My friends have bought tickets for this event.

I will be not be going personally as I do not prefer to watch LOIs in a stadium as there is too much going on. Prefer to watch a day of a Test Match.

Good thing in Australia is there is no price jacking and ticket prices range between 30 AUD to 50 AUD.Still, 100k Capacity so a huge windfall for CA, plus the local hospitality sector. Lot of Pubs/Bars and Indian/Pakistan restaurants in and around Richmond(suburb where MCG is located) and Melbourne CBD.

If India win, I may go downtown after the match just to check out the vibe.

 

[Savak]

Indians will look to come down hard against Pakistan

 

[MenInG]

Shoaib Akhtar believes that Pakistan is a ‘better side’ and they will beat Team India once again in the marquee tournament:

"We will beat India again in Melbourne. Pakistan is a better side than India in T20 cricket. It's the Indian media that make unnecessary pressure on their team whenever we have the clash of both countries in cricket, it's normal for India to lose," Akhtar said while speaking to ANI

 

[Cricfan4eva]

I am looking forward for mauka-mauka ad, now with the twist in the tale it better be brilliant.

Also, MCG packed wow. It's going to be epic.

 

[Mesozoic]

This fixture ain't "iconic" anymore I'm afraid.

One of the two teams always loses the plot completely from the very beginning and it just leads to a boring dull one-sided affair. World Cup encounters had that extra build up and spice in anticipation of a "shock" Pakistani win but now even that is gone...

Just hope the game's closer than the dross we got served since the 2014 Asia cup..

 

[MenInG]

The interest surrounding this year’s men’s T20 World Cup proves Australia’s reputation as a host nation of major sporting events has felt little impact over the Novak Djokovic saga, according to James Sutherland.

It’s believed over 60,000 pre-sale tickets for the India v Pakistan group match at the MCG on October 23 have already been sold.

Tickets go public from midday on Monday.

The T20 World Cup final, and Australia’s group matches against England and New Zealand are also in the top five most popular matches. More than 200,000 pre-sale tickets have been snapped up so far.

Sutherland, who is on the board of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, said it was another example of Australia finding a way to accommodate major sporting events in a pandemic, despite the negative press the country received for its handling of the Djokovic situation.

“I’ve got no doubt, for Australia, our reputation as a country that hosts major events will continue to be really strong,” he said.

“Probably the biggest event to be held in Australia this year is the T20 World Cup, in October and November, and I know the ticket sales for that are absolutely outstanding.

“Coming quite quickly off the back of the one Australia won in the UAE, there’s going to be a huge level of anticipation around that event. I don’t think there’s going to be any aftermath from the Aus Open.

“I think this whole COVID thing, everyone knows and understands it’s incredibly complex, and you’ve got a whole lot of decision-makers who are involved and trying to integrate with politicians, health authorities, event organisers and promoters, and I think we all know and understand this.”

Sutherland, who is chief executive of Golf Australia, said his sport had also been able to flourish, highlighted by the Vic Open boost and talk of another Presidents Cup coming to Melbourne in 2028.

Brisbane is also gearing up for the 2032 Olympic Games and Melbourne has also emerged as a likely host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“We’ve seen in the last week with the cancellation of the New Zealand Open, it’s a very disappointing thing for New Zealand golf, but on the same side of things, in two weeks or three weeks’ time, they’re about to host a Women’s World Cup in cricket, and that’s going ahead,” Sutherland said.

“I think everyone understands there’s all these complex issues in decision-making and timing that have happened with COVID.”

Golf participation has flourished since Tiger Woods’ Team USA won the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in 2019, and while Sutherland said participation had long been on an upward trajectory, world-class events like the one rumoured to be returning in 2028 could only do wonders for the host nation.

“If the rumours are true, then it’s something very significant to look forward to,” Sutherland said.

“We’ve had three of them now in Australia and each one of them have been fantastic events, each one of them have gone to another level.

“I was actually a volunteer during the 2019 one, just managing the ropes in a few places around the course, and it was just amazing to see such huge crowds and interest, and obviously some of the best players in the world. I’m looking forward to it if it is true.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-cup-before-going-public-20220204-p59tsg.html

 

[Extra_Cover]

I'm just afraid our fast bowling for Australian conditions barring Shaheen is not up to mark for us to compete significantly in the competition. Ideally we need another flag bearer to support Shaheen with Haris as support. We do not have that second senior seamer.

 

[MenInG]

Tickets allocations for this year's men's T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground sold out within five minutes of going on sale to the general public on Monday.

And such is the pull of India's team, tickets available for their second group game at the SCG also sold out on Monday, despite their opponent not yet being known.

Tickets for the tournament, which will be held at seven Australian venues between October 16 and November 13 this year, are now on sale to the public after 200,000 tickets were snapped up during the pre-sale period.

Unsurprisingly, the October 23 match between rivals India and Pakistan – who don't currently play bilateral cricket due to security concerns – was immensely popular and ticket allocations were exhausted within five minutes of going on sale.

The two sides last met on Australian soil at the Adelaide Oval during the 2015 ODI World Cup, a match that also sold out in just minutes.

India's game against South Africa at the MCG during that tournament, when more than 86,000 attended, offers a preview of what is sure to be a bumper crowd of close to 90,000 people.

Tickets for a SCG double-header on October 27, which will see South Africa face Bangladesh before India take on a qualifier in the evening, were also exhausted shortly after going on sale on Monday.

Tournament CEO Michelle Enright said while most tickets so far have been purchased by Australian residents, she's hopeful the imminent re-opening of Australia's borders will encourage international tourists to attend the event.

"We know that so far our ticket purchasers are predominantly residing in Australia, so to have two match-days with General Ticket allocations all sold that feature India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa shows the passion for cricket from fans in those communities," she said.

"With news of Australian borders starting to open to visitors from February 21, the timing is perfect for fans around the world to start planning a trip to Australia and be part of a global cricket celebration later this year."

Other matches to sell strongly so far are Australia's tournament opener against New Zealand in Sydney on October 22, their match against England at the MCG on October 28 and the tournament final in Melbourne on November 13.

Australia will play games in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, in that order, before the semi-finals are held in Sydney and Adelaide.

This year's tournament will again feature 16 teams and be run in the same Super 12 format as the previous edition held in the UAE last October-November.

The Australian team that won their first ever T20 World Cup in Dubai last year have been grouped with New Zealand, England, Afghanistan and two teams that will come through first round of the tournament.

India, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh and two further teams from the first round will make up the second group.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/t20...sold-out-australia-scg-new-zealand/2022-02-08

 

[Romali_rotti]

Secured my tickets....

Me and the wife will be there...

Wish I could have watched this game with @MIGGY at the G

 

[MenInG]

Secured my tickets....

Me and the wife will be there...

Wish I could have watched this game with @MIGGY at the G

Would have loved to travel but toooo far and covid is an issue.

==

Think Pakistan will need to play like their lives depended on it as the place will have 99% Indian support.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Would have loved to travel but toooo far and covid is an issue.

==

Think Pakistan will need to play like their lives depended on it as the place will have 99% Indian support.

Understood,

and

I feel the ratio of supporters will be like 65-35 Indians/Pakistanis

 

[moghul]

So happy not to have any pre-match favorite , both teams have a chance and that makes this game a thriller .

I watched 2015 WC final at MCG with 94000 crowd , it was amazing . This one will be even bigger because its India-Pakistan WC match.

 

[moghul]

Secured my tickets....

Me and the wife will be there...

Wish I could have watched this game with @MIGGY at the G

Lucky you, both of you will have a great time . I was there in 2015 WC final.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lucky you, both of you will have a great time . I was there in 2015 WC final.

2015 was a great game and atmosphere would have been electric...

This is my first India vs Pak T20 live at the stadium will be good...

Tickets were hard to get as it was sold out and I had to fork out $1000 for me and my cricket hating Irish wife ..

Nevertheless will be a great one...

 

[MenInG]

Wasim Akram :

“It is definitely an exciting clash. We won against them [India] last time but we will have to look at our team’s form in the Asian Cup first"

“I hope that Pakistan will win but as always it will be a close game"

“Our team is performing really well. Also, our captain is in great form and currently the world’s top batter"

 

[hitthestump]

“I hope that Pakistan will win but as always it will be a close game"

When was the last time these sides had a close game?

 

[Hectic]

When was the last time these sides had a close game?

2014 Asia Cup when Afridi smacked a couple of last over sixes to win by 1 wicket.

 

[daytrader]

India-Pakistan ICC Men's T20 World Cup tickets almost sold out months in advance

NEW DELHI: Indians are lapping up the first major cricketing event post relaxation of international travel restrictions — the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 that kicks off in Australia on October 16. Tickets for the India-Pakistan match on October 23 (a day before Diwali) at Melbourne Cricket Ground have already been sold out, says Tourism Australia. So far the maximum demand for ticket sales for the matches, with the final being on November 13, is from India.

“Based on our sales data so far, we have sold 40% of our packages in India, 27% in North America, 18% in Australia, 15% in UK and rest of the world. Hotel rooms across Melbourne have already been sold. About 45-50,000 fans are expected to arrive in Melbourne for the India-Pakistan match. General Admission tickets were sold out in matter of minutes with only a handful of VIP hospitality experiences remaining,” says Ash Chawla of Global Sports Travel, an Australian-Indian sporting experiences company with global sales rights for ICC “hospitality packages”.

Manoj Saraf, Gainwell Sports MD, said: “Hospitality tickets for India vs Pakistan were in maximum demand and where sold out two months ago. They (ICC) have just launched a new product called Boundary Club with only 300 tickets for India-Pak which too will be sold out this week. India vs South Africa in Perth is the next in demand game… Overall hospitality inventory is being taken up very quickly and should be sold out for all India games by August. The bulk of our sales have been to Indians who will be traveling to Australia but there has been a decent amount of sales to NRIs from Africa, UK and Australia as well.”

Australia was originally supposed to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups from October 18 to November 15, 2020. Tourism Australia had planned to attract lakhs of Indian visitors for the mega events. But then Covid struck and global travel went in a deep freeze. It now wants to achieve in 2022 what was planned for 2020.

Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia country manager (India and Gulf), told TOI: “This year the tournament coincides with the Diwali holiday period and is expected to be a huge draw. We have already seen massive demand with the tickets for the India – Pakistan match being sold off within a short time of going on sale and the other India matches are also being sought after, not just from passionate cricket fans but also from mid to large sized corporates for who the World Cup presents a perfect opportunity to reward and incentivise their stakeholders.”

According to Tourism Australia in pre-pandemic times, India was the fastest growing inbound market Down under with six straight years of double-digit growth. India was also Australia's fastest growing inbound tourism market for three consecutive years, pre Covid.

“While we are already witnessing an impressive growth in terms of visitor visa lodgements, which are significantly higher than pre-Covid levels, the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup provides us with a massive opportunity to take this to the next level. We look forward to welcoming our guests from India for an unforgettable cricket experience at our iconic stadiums and also giving them a flavour of our truly distinct way of life,” Kashikar said.

“Australia and India have a strong bond through their shared love for cricket.… To make this one of the largest sporting spectacles in the world, a range of offerings and packages are being introduced for travellers from India in partnership with the ICC's official ticketing and hospitality agents,” Kashikar added.

TOI

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Got tickets. Will be there. Can't wait for my first India playing Pak game. the atmosphere will be electric for sure!!

 

[ZafarKhan2022]

Based on the violence inflicted on Pak fans (even children), by fans of the indian and afghan sides, I would sell my tickets to a scalper and watch it on my IPTV.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just nine days ago, the 'G hosted its last footy match for the year. <br><br>Now, it's ready for summer. &#55356;&#57295; <a href="https://t.co/aWjnrqW3lH">pic.twitter.com/aWjnrqW3lH</a></p>— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) <a href="https://twitter.com/MCG/status/1577175866576015360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>