Potchefstroom – Pakistan and India to face each other in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 World Cup at the JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom today.
The highly-anticipated clash will capture the attention of millions of cricket fans in the sub-continent and the stakes, as always, are high. The winners will clinch a spot in the 9 February final of the most prestigious age-group cricket event. Both the teams are previous champions with India getting the title 4 times, while Pakistan getting it 2 times. (2004 and 2006).
The two teams have frequently clashed in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. While Pakistan have won five out of the nine matches between the two sides, India have won four contests. Pakistan and India to face each other again. Pakistan have so far shown great depth in both bowling and batting departments in the ongoing tournament. Pace bowling all-rounder Abbas Afridi is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker, to date. His fellow pacers Tahir Hussain and Amir Khan have taken seven wickets each.
The batting is led by Mohammad Haris who was the man-of-the-match against Zimbabwe with a sparkling 48-ball 81. Haris saw off the chase against Afghanistan with an unbeaten 29 off 43 balls, his tournament tally is 110 runs (two innings) with only a single dismissal earning him a 110-run average.
The right-handed stroke player who has already caught the attention of cricket pundits during his stroke filled 28 on Friday. He, however, feels that the team is ready for the big clash while he knows that he needs to turn-up in the big semi-final clash.