Cricket

Pakistan and Ireland will face off in their final match of the 2024 T20 World Cup, with both teams eliminated from contention for the Super 8 stage. Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to salvage some pride after a disappointing tournament.Pakistan has endured a dismal campaign, losing to India, South Africa, and New Zealand. Former players have called for changes to the team and captaincy, but Azam remains determined to finish on a high note. "As a professional, you need to prepare for every match. We'll look to play our best today," he said.Ireland, meanwhile, is seeking its first win of the tournament. They lost to India and Canada and had their match against the USA washed out due to rain. Captain Paul Stirling is eager to end the tournament on a positive note.The match is a dead rubber, but both teams will be keen to prove their worth. Pakistan will be looking to build momentum for future tournaments, while Ireland will be hoping to gain valuable experience.

Canada's skipper, Saad Bin Zafar, acknowledged the slowing down of the pitch at the Nassau County ground during the second half of their T20 World Cup match against Ireland, which they ultimately won by 12 runs. Canada's victory marked their first in the tournament.Zafar attributed their success to the strategic inclusion of an extra spinner, praising the performances of both himself and Junaid Siddiqui. The pitch at this venue has been under scrutiny for its challenging batting conditions, with low-scoring games being the norm, especially with the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan scheduled for Sunday."The wicket got a bit slow today, so it worked to our advantage. We gambled with an extra spinner and I feel both myself and Junaid (Siddiqui) bowled really well," Zafar said at the post-match presentation.Zafar expressed hope that Canada will be able to carry the momentum into their next game against Pakistan. "One game at a time, we need to enjoy this win and come back strong against Pakistan. We are here to play positive cricket," Zafar said.Describing their win as a "proud moment," Zafar praised his side for a unified show. "(It's a) very proud moment for the team. The way Kirton and Movva batted, we knew we had a good total to defend. We needed a good performance from the bowling unit and I am so proud of my bowlers for putting their hand up and delivering," he said.Ireland skipper Paul Stirling, whose batting struggles continued with a meager score of nine, acknowledged that his team was not at their best and hoped for improvement in all aspects of the game. "(It was a) tough loss, we weren't at the races today. The target was gettable and we didn't think we'd struggle too much," he said."We were off in all three facets today, we need to show a better game when we go to Miami and Florida. We don't want to look too far into the future, we've got USA next," Stirling added.Nicholas Kirton, who played a match-winning knock of 49 off 35 balls, emphasized the importance of Canada bouncing back after their heavy defeat against the USA in the tournament opener. He found the pitch to be generally good for batting, with only a small area in the middle causing some inconsistency."Bouncing back from the first game was important. Trust me, it wasn't that easy. (I) just tried to get in, get the pace of the wicket. Honestly it wasn't that bad. There was an area in the middle of the wicket that was a bit up and down, but otherwise it was a good wicket to bat on," he said."It is very good to get our first win in the World Cup. Hopefully we can continue from strength to strength. Our next focus is Pakistan. Two spinners bowled very well (as there was a) bit of purchase on offer," he added.

Ireland vs Pakistan 2nd T20I: Pakistan Aims to Redeem Themselves After Series-Opening LossPakistan will be eager to make amends when they face Ireland in the second T20I of the three-match series in Dublin on Sunday, May 12. The hosts stunned the visitors in the series opener at the Clontarf Cricket Club, securing a five-wicket victory to take an early lead.Pakistan's disappointing performance in the first match has prompted them to consider changes to their lineup. Pacer Mohammad Amir, who missed the series opener due to a visa delay, is expected to make his debut for Pakistan in the second T20I.Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a series victory. The hosts have been in impressive form, having won their last three T20I matches.Match Details:* Date: Sunday, May 12* Venue: Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin* Start Time: 7:30 PM ISTBroadcast Information:* TV: Not telecast in India* Live Streaming: FanCodeKey Players to Watch:* Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Josh Little* Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad AmirAnalysis:Pakistan will be desperate to level the series and avoid a humiliating defeat. The return of Amir will bolster their bowling attack, but they will need to improve their batting performance.Ireland, meanwhile, will be confident of continuing their winning streak. They have a well-balanced team with experienced players and exciting young talents.The second T20I promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Pakistan will be determined to prove their worth, while Ireland will be aiming to secure a series victory on home soil.

Ireland's captain, Paul Stirling, took a playful jab at Pakistan after his team's triumph in the first T20I of a three-match series in Dublin on Friday. Former captain Andrew Balbirnie's impressive 77 guided Ireland to their first victory over Pakistan in 17 years. This was only Ireland's second win against Pakistan, following their surprising triumph at the 2007 50-over World Cup in the West Indies.In a post-match interview, Stirling took a swipe at the pitches in Pakistan, describing them as the "flattest decks in the world." He elaborated, "When you come here, especially from Pakistan, the flattest pitches in the world, ask them to bat first and see what they can get. We were happy to chase 180."After Ireland elected to bowl, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and opener Saim Ayub formed a solid partnership, adding 85 runs for the second wicket. Babar top-scored for the tourists with 57, while Ayub contributed 45. Iftikhar Ahmed (37) and Shadab Khan (14) made valuable contributions down the order, helping Pakistan reach a total of 182/6.In response, Ireland chased down the target of 183 with a ball to spare. Ireland needed 40 runs from the last four overs, and Abbas Afridi dismissed George Dockrell for 24. With Ireland requiring 11 runs from the final over, Curtis Campher under-edged a boundary off Abbas and sealed the victory with a leg bye."I didn't watch the last over. (I) went to the tent and put a towel over my head. I felt it was my job to get the team over the line... Harry said if we could bat normally till the 13th over, we could get the runs. That was a partnership which set it up," said Balbirnie, who was dismissed in the 19th over.