T20 World Cup 2022

Pakistan were on the brink of elimination after losses to India and Zimbabwe. But came back to win against the Netherlands, South Africa and Bangladesh, along with the Dutch defeating the Proteas, to enter the semifinals. After defeating New Zealand in the semifinal, Pakistan will face off against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the final on Sunday. Hayden, signed up by Pakistan as their team mentor, has been a huge influence on the side's roller-coaster run, which hasn't surprised Lee at all.

Suryakumar made a massive impact for India in the T20 World Cup with his consistency clubbed with a more than healthy strike rate. Heading into the final, he is the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 239 runs that came at a strike rate of 189.68, the best in the tournament.

About 30 years after Imran Khan-led Pakistan defeated England in the final of the 1992 ODI World Cup at the MCG, the two teams will face off against each other at the very same venue to clinch their second T20 World Cup title. Though Hussain acknowledged that England are strong, he warned against underestimating Pakistan. "So Pakistan will be a big threat but, as I said after the semifinal, if England play as they did against India they can beat any side.

Sharif on Thursday posted on Twitter referring to India's one-sided defeat in the semifinal to England and their 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the Super 12 stage of last year's T20 World Cup while describing the line-up of Sunday's final in Melbourne. These were the only two matches India ever lost in T20 World Cup by 10 wickets.

Pakistan bounced back from losses in their two opening matches to India and Zimbabwe to win their next four matches on the trot, including a stunning seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the semifinal, to storm into the final at the MCG on Sunday. "We have lost the first two matches (but) the way we came back the last four matches, we've performed very well.

With both teams on their quest to win just their second T20 World Cup title, the heavy rain predicted for the final showdown on Sunday as well as on Monday, the reserve day, the trophy could be shared between the two teams. Fans will be praying to the cricketing gods to conjure up miraculous circumstances for the match to be held, even if it is a 10-overs a side affair.

In England's first appearance in a major tournament since their 2019 ODI World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan stepped down and retired from international cricket, his successor Buttler has been at the forefront of leading the side as well as contributing with the bat to the final of the ongoing tournament.

Despite winning the 2010 T20 World Cup in West Indies, England were still playing a dated version of white-ball cricket and that was evident in their loss to Bangladesh where they hit the rock bottom. After their return back home, Eoin Morgan was entrusted with re-building the white-ball side, from head to toe.

"We'll keep an open mind. It's a short turnaround again: a travel day and then almost straight into it with one training session. There's not a lot of time for them," England coach Matthew Mott told the BBC after the England team's travel to Melbourne on Friday.

India struggled to get going with the bat and despite posting a sub-par 168/6, including amassing 68 runs in the last five overs, England openers, captain Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, cruised to chasing down the target with four overs to spare at the Adelaide Oval.