The English Lions have done a tremendous job to reach the final of the World Cup. Their chances were heavily dented after getting beaten by the Irish side. However, after that, they never looked behind. They have been on the next level with their batting. They easily brushed away a strong Indian side. Hales and Buttler were the Architects of the win. They now face the challenge of Pakistan in the final, in what will be a rematch of Pakistan vs England from the 1992 World Cup. Pakistan is a side no one wishes to face in a knockout. This is purely due to the unpredictability Green Caps have on offer every time they set a foot on the playing ground. They can be completed on the song and the next day give a performance to forget. Similarly, they can be down and out and still manage to win a game out of the blue. They won the CT17 when no one expected them to win. It was their resilience that made them invincible. However, this Pakistani side has some consistency in the shape of their pillars Shadab, Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah. These four players have consistently done well for the side in green. They have been on top of their game when it mattered the most. The English side is a little bit depleted with missing potentially five players who were a sure part of the side. But England is a team with the strongest bench. Harry Brook and Sam Curran have made the most of the opportunities presented to them. It will be an even steven competition on Sunday as both teams are balanced. Pakistan relies on their bowling. The English side backs their batters to chase down any total. It is going to be a fierce competition between the bowling of Pakistan and the batting of England. In this article, we will discuss key players from both sides. Players can be a difference on an all-important day in MCG.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is always an automatic option if you speak about impact players in big matches. Pakistan and England are both going to play their third final in T20 World Cups. Ben Stokes can easily say that he has cost his side one of them as he was taken to the cleaners by Carlos Brathwaite( remember the name). But since then he has always been a difference on big occasions. The all-rounder won a crucial Ashes Test all on his own. He was Man of the Final in the 2019 World Cup. Ben Stokes has always stood up for the English side whenever the need arose. He will be one player whose performance will define the result of the final.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen will fly high in the MCG. This is what all 220 million people of Pakistan will say if you ask them. On 7 occasions in T20is, he has dismissed a batter in the first over of the innings. It will be curtains for England if he repeats the feat on Sunday. He is a threat with unparalleled success when he has the new cherry in his hand. Two or three well-directed in-dippers will surely do a world of good for the Pakistan team and its supporters.
