Fans anticipate thrilling match as Pakistan, Australia face off 

Dubai: In the second semi-final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup today Pakistan will lock horns with Australia in Dubai today (Thursday).

The match will start at 7 pm (Pakistan Standard Time).

There's a bit of a history between these two. The last time Green shirts played with Kangaroos in the 2010 T20 World Cup and the sub-continental giants, the then defending champions, were winning it till the 39th over of the match. 

Three sixes and a four by Saeed Ajmal in the last over dethroned Pakistan as T20 champions. 

It has never been the same for them after that.

Pakistan Squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez/Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali/Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Australia Squad

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan’s performance throughout the tournament

Pakistan has ridden a wave of euphoria all the way to the semis after beating arch-rivals India by 10 wickets in their opening match.

Consecutive wins over New Zealand, Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland made Pakistan the only impressive team that has not been beaten in this year's tournament.

That performance is all the more impressive considering the withdrawal of New Zealand and England from limited-overs tours in the build-up to the tournament threw Pakistan's preparations into disarray.

In the meantime, Australia is perhaps the most top-heavy side of this tournament. They have scored 402 of the 640 runs during the tournament to become the top three.