Pakistan vs India warm up T20 match today

COLOMBO: ICC T20 World Cup is just one day away but that doesn't mean that the viewers will have to wait for 24 hours to get some live cricketing action, as there is one warm up match today that is different to others which involves the arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

National team sources said that Imran Nazir and Muhammad Hafeez would play as openers and Shahid Afridi after getting fit would replace left-arm spinner Raza Hassan, while there was a proposal to field speedster Yasir Arfaat in place of Abdul Razzaque.

The team playing against India in warm up match would also play against New Zealand and Bangladesh in Group ‘D; matches, sources said. Imran Nazir and Muhammad Hafeez will open the innings, regular one-day opener Nasir Jamshed will play one-down, Shoaib Malik at 4th, Umar Akmal at 5th. Although experts said that Kamran Akmal should be tried as opener, while Shahis Afridi and Yasir Arfaat will be playing in the lower middle order.

As fast bowlers, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arfaat, while as spinners Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Muhammad Hafeez will be included in the team. If needed, fast bowler Muhammad Sami, batsman Asad Shafque, all rounder Abdul Razzaque and spinner Raza Hassan could also be given opportunity.

Both the warm up matches of Pakistan in ICC World T20 are feared to be affected by rain. Pakistan vs India warm up match will begin at 1.30 P.M (Pakistan Time), while Pakistan vs England will start at 9.00 A.M. on Wednesday.

Colombo Met Department has forecast rain during both the matches.