NEW YORK: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against India in the high-voltage ICC T20I World Cup 2024 match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The toss was delayed due to the rain and wet outfield in New York.
The high-octane clash is about to get underway shortly at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
The toss was earlier delayed due to ongoing rain in New York.
The match was supposed to start at 10:30 am, with live broadcasts at 2:30 pm GMT, 7:30 pm PST, and 8:00 pm IST but that too is likely to be delayed as well as the rain in New York is continuing with gaps.
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The match, dubbed the “mother of all clashes,” is crucial for both teams. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, is desperate for a win following a shocking loss to the United States in their tournament opener. India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, will secure a spot in the Super 8 with a victory, having already defeated Ireland in their first match.
At the cultural crossroads of the world, New Yorkers will experience a thrilling first on Sunday (today) – a World Cup cricket match hosted in a US city between Asian powerhouses: rivals India and Pakistan.
Beyond the tournament, which concludes at the end of June, the local cricket organizer hopes it brings “better infrastructure” for players in the New York area.
They will not, however, benefit from the Long Island stadium, which will be dismantled in July, leaving local leagues to continue their quest for a dedicated arena.
“India-Pakistan is the game everyone would like to watch, and… it’s happening in our backyard,” said Ajith Shetty, president of two local cricket leagues. “I’m very, very thrilled,” the Indian native told AFP on Friday.
Beyond the Indian and Pakistani communities, the face-off is eagerly anticipated by immigrants from other South Asian countries where cricket is popular. “Like lion and tiger” is how Faros Ahmed, a 58-year-old of Bangladeshi origin, described the rivalry.
Although both countries are cricket powerhouses, head-to-head matches are rare between the nations. The two sides do not meet outside of official competitions of the ICC, the international cricket federation, and the last test match between them was in 2007.
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
