India, Pakistan set to light up New York today
Rain threat looms over clash of arch-rivals
Sunday, 9 June 2024
WESTBURY, New York, June 08 (Agencies): At the cultural crossroads of the world, New Yorkers will experience a thrilling first on Sunday -- a World Cup cricket match hosted in a US city between Asian powerhouses: rivals India and Pakistan.
A crestfallen Pakistan goes into its grudge game against archrival India with still-painful memories of its huge upset defeat by the United States.
The US beat Pakistan in Group A game with a historic win in the Super Over at Dallas on Thursday to register its second successive victory in its debut World Cup.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam cannot afford another loss that might put his team's progress to the Super 8 playoff stage in serious danger.
Nothing seems to have gone right for Pakistan since the Babar-led team lost the T20 World Cup final against England in 2022. Pakistan lost T20 internationals against Afghanistan, understrength New Zealand, Ireland and England before losing to the U.S in the shock upset on Thursday.
The reaction back home in Pakistan was predictable.
"USA grounded Pakistan in their opening game," wrote former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis on the social media site X. "History's been registered. Pakistan looked exhausted and helpless in the field. Congrats USA for a thumping victory."
Fellow former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar added: "Unfortunately Pakistan never deserved to win."
And the struggles for Pakistan might continue.
A set of mystery drop-in pitches that has a variable bounce at the purpose-built 34,000-capacity stadium on Long Island in Westbury, New York awaits Babar's struggling batters against the likes of Indian fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Muhammed Siraj.
Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower criticized the pitches in New York, saying they were bordering on dangerous.
"I've got to say that is not a good surface to play an international match on," Flower said, "It's bordering on dangerous. You saw the ball bouncing from a length both ways, skidding low occasionally ... and striking people on the thumb, on the gloves, on the helmet and making life very very difficult for any batsman."