The much-anticipated Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup final is all set to take place tomorrow (November 13) at the iconic MCG in Melbourne. Both sides will meet each other in an ICC World Cup final for the first time in 30 years, as this is a repeat of the 1992 World Cup final. Let’s take a look at the match preview, h2h record, venue, and probable playing XI for the championship match.
PAK vs ENG ICC Twenty20 World Cup Final 2022: Match Preview
It could be an epic battle for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is that Pakistan and England faced each other in the 1992 50-over format World Cup final at the same venue. Pakistan won that final by beating England by 22 runs at the MCG. So, it would be a déjà vu feeling for the supporters of both teams.
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Besides, Pakistan and England have recently met each other quite often and know each other's strengths and weaknesses. England played a bilateral series in Pakistan last month, which they won 4-3.
Another important factor would be the pitch. The MCG surface will almost certainly favour pace bowlers, allowing them to flourish. Therefore, faster bowlers would most likely be seen dominating over the batters.
Both England and Pakistan have reached the final after a slow start in the campaign. They finished second in their respective groups to earn a place in the knockout round and had a dominating victory over their opposition in the semifinals. The two finalists have the confidence and belief to overcome their opponents in the all-important final. Now they have to show it at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
England vs Pakistan head-to-head T20I Record
England and Pakistan have played 28 Twenty20 international matches so far between them. The English team currently leads the head-to-head duel with 18 victories, while Pakistan have 9 victories. England came out on top 4-3 in the most recent bilateral series between the two sides.
England vs Pakistan Twenty20 World Cup 2022 final match schedule
The Twenty20 World Cup 2022 final match between Pakistan and England will take place at the MCG in Melbourne on November 13 as per schedule. The championship contest will kick off at 2 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). If the rain halts the match, there is a reserve day to finish the final.
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ENG vs PAK T20 World Cup 2022 final match venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground’s T20I stats
Eighteen Twenty20 international matches have been staged at the MCG so far. Here are some important Twenty20 International stats for the Melbourne ground.
Matches Played (T20I): 18 | Bat First Won: 7 | Bat Second Won: 10 | Highest Team Innings: 186/5 | Lowest Team Innings: 74 | Highest Run Chased: 172/5 | Highest Individual Innings: 89 | Best Bowling Figure: 4/30
MCG’s weather on Sunday and pitch report
There is a strong prediction of rain on Sunday in Melbourne; therefore, the England vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 final may be halted due to inclement weather conditions. Though the ICC has kept a reserve day for the championship match. The MCG ground usually favours the fast bowlers, and on Sunday it is unlikely to behave differently. The captain who wins the toss may prefer to chase at this venue.
Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup 2022 Final: Probable playing XI
First and foremost, there is no point to making any major changes to the playing lineup unless it is a necessary one. In that context, both sides will likely field an unchanged team in the final. England may be tempted to bring in David Willey in place of Chris Jordan, who was the most expensive bowler for the side in the semifinal contest against India.
Pakistan (predicted playing XI)
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi
England (predicted playing XI)
Jos Buttler (captain & wicket-keeper), Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid
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Bottom Line
The Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup final promises to be a tough battle to watch as both teams have some seriously talented T20 format players. The players on both teams will thus be under pressure, but those who play with a positive mindset and attempt to focus on their game will have the best chance of winning the contest.