T20 WC SF2 PAK vs AUS highlights: Wade's cameo takes Australia into final

David Warner made 49, while Matthew Wade smashed a 17-ball unbeaten 41 and Marcus Stoinis was not out on 40 off 31 deliveries as Australia overhauled the target with an over to spare

7:17 PM

ICC T20 WC, SF 2, PAK vs AUS: Match officials

Match official for second semifinal

• On-field umpires: Richard Kettleborough and Chris Gaffaney
• Third umpire: Joel Wilson
• Fourth umpire: Richard Illingworth
• Match referee Jeff Crowe

7:11 PM

ICC T20 WC, SF 2, PAK vs AUS playing 11

7:02 PM

ICC T20 WC, SF 2, PAK vs AUS LIVE TOSS: Pakistan batting first

Australia wins the toss and elects to bowl first

6:58 PM

ICC T20 WC, SF 2, Pakistan vs Australia LIVE TOSS

The live toss between Australia and Pakistan is moments away, stay tuned. Team bowling first has won more matches at this venue. 

6:57 PM

Brett Lee reckons 'underdogs' Australia can win maiden title

Former pacer Brett Lee has backed "underdogs" Australia to win the ongoing T20 World Cup on Sunday.

 

Pakistan and Australia will lock horns in the semi-final on Thursday. Having won the last Super 12 match in their Group, Australia are coming on the back of the win.

 

Lee said Australia have some "real momentum" with them and everything is clicking nicely for the Aaron Finch-led side ahead of the semi-final clash.

 

"After almost a month of action, it all comes down to five days, four teams and three matches at the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup 2021. And I reckon this could be Australia's year," Lee wrote in his ICC column before the New Zealand-England match.

 

"England are the favourites from here but I sense the belief in the Australia camp and I think there is some real momentum there. Everything is clicking nicely ahead of Thursday's semi-final against Pakistan," he said

 

"Go back a month and Australia didn't have any form on the eve of this tournament but their big players have caught fire. I was speaking to David Warner before it started and told him 'I have you down to be Australia's leading run-scorer, so don't let me down!' I did that on the belief that he is a big-match player, a big tournament player and that has not changed. Aaron Finch has found some form, Mitchell Marsh is hitting the ball well and Glenn Maxwell will come good," Lee added.

 

The legendary pacer said going under the radar in this year's T20 World Cup has helped Australia as nobody had any expectation from the team.

 

"They have been underdogs in this tournament and going under the radar has really helped them. When you go in as one of the favourites like England, with their history and success, it breeds confidence but also expectations. If England don't beat New Zealand and make the final, people will be asking questions, just like India, who started slowly and didn't peak at the right time," said Lee.

Australia cricket team

6:44 PM

Why Rizwan and Malik important for Pakistan?

6:42 PM

Hayden expects something special from Fakhar Zaman in semis

6:39 PM

Pakistan's Rizwan, Malik declared fit to play semis against Australia

In a major relief for Pakistan, opener Mohammad Rizwan and middle-order batter Shoaib Malik have been declared fit by the medical team to take part in the Men's T20 World Cup semi-final game against Australia, here on Thursday.

 

Both Rizwan and Malik were down with mild flu and fever and had stayed away from training on the eve of the game. However, they have tested negative for Covid-19 twice in three days.

 

According to the Espncricinfo report, both Pakistan batters woke up on Wednesday morning with what a team official described as "light flu and low fever", and were advised to stay back in the hotel and remain under observation. The rest of the squad members and support staff went ahead with their training sessions at the ICC Academy premises.

 

There was no Covid-19 scare in the team at any point and it is understood that the team management had expected Rizwan and Malik to be available for the game. Despite that, medical professionals travelling with the team continued to assess them at regular intervals through Wednesday and Thursday.

Shoaib Malik

6:17 PM

ICC T20 World Cup 2021, semifinal 2: Pakistan vs Australia LIVE

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Pakistan vs Australia semifinal match at Dubai International Stadium.