Pakistan will be looking for a series-clinching while World XI a series-levelling win when the two sides will meet in the 2nd T20 international of Independence Cup at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
Pakistan, playing their first high-profile international match at home since the attacks on Sri Lanka’s team bus in 2009, secured a 20-run win in the series-opener at the same venue on Tuesday to go up 1-0 in three-match series.
Babar Azam struck a whirlwind 86 off 52 balls while Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik scored 39 and 38 runs respectively as the hosts posted a competitive total of 197-7.
The visitors, in reply, lost wickets at regular intervals and finished at 177-7 in their 20 overs. Skipper Faf du Plessis (29), Darren Sammy (29) and Hashim Amla (28) were their notable scorers.
Seamer Rumman Raees proved out to be the most expensive bowler for the hosts, having bagged two wickets conceding 37 runs in 3 overs.
Paceman Hassan Ali also failed to preserve his pace and line due to a back strain and leaked 44 runs in four wicketless overs. He is likely to be rested for Wednesday’s game and replaced with Usman Khan Shinwari.
The replacement of Fahim Ashraf with Muhammad Nawaz is another change likely in their line-up.
World XI, meanwhile, are likely to bring in spinner Samuel Badree at the expense of either Darren Sammy and Thisara Perera, who were both costly in the first game.
They are unlikely to tinker with their combination otherwise.
The third and final T20I will also be played in Lahore on Friday.
Squads:
Pakistan:
Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali,Ahmed Shehzad, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf , Umar Amin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Aamer Yamin, Usman Khan, Sohail Khan
World XI:
Faf du Plessis, Samuel Badree, Tamim Iqbal, David Miller, Paul Collingwood, Darren Sammy, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, George Bailey, Tim Paine, Thisara Perera, Ben Cutting, Hashim Amla, Grant Elliott
