India Champions take on Pakistan Champions in the inaugural final of the World Championship of Legends tournament. The Asian powerhouses will lock horns at the Edgbaston in Birmingham, to claim the bragging rights as the retired legends of six countries competed in the exhibition tournament.
Team India finished fourth in the gourp stage, above South Africa only on Net Run Rate (NRR). Pakistan on the other hand, finished second behind Australia in the group stage, winning four of their five games.
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India beat league-leaders Australia in the semi-finals, while Paksitan got the better of West Indies to qualify for the final. The one time that India played Pakistan in the tournament, saw the latter win convincingly, by a margin of 68 runs.
As the two arch-rivals face in the World Championship of Legends 2024 final on Saturday, here are three key player-battles to watch out for.
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India Champions vs Pakistan Champions: Three key battles ahead of WCL 2024 final
Shoaib Malik vs Harbhajan Singh
Shoaib Malik vs Harbhajan Singh in the middle-overs, is one of the key battles to watch out for in the WCL final. Malik has scored 204 runs in six games, and is Pakistan's second-highest run-getter in the tournament.
The right-hander is an efficient player of spin, who will face the likes of Harbhajan Singh in the final. The Turbanator, who has eight wickets to his name in the tournament, will look to get the better of Shoaib Malik, in the quest to glory.
Sharjeel Khan vs Dhawal Kulkarni
Dhawal Kulkarni has been India's go-to bowler in the power play. Sharjeel Khan scored a 30-ball 72, as Pakistan battered India in the group stage of the World Championship of Legends 2024. Dhawal Kulkarni, who has been India's lead pacer in the competition, would look to knock out Sharjeel early on in the final.
Sharjeel Khan has scored 209 runs in six innings, and is ranked fifth in the highest run-scorers in the tournament. Khan will have to be wary of Dhawal Kulkarni's ability to swing the ball away from the left-handers, as he gears up for the WCL 2024 final.
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Robin Uthappa vs Sohail Khan
Robin Uthappa has been in prime form, getting into the WCL final. The opener scored a 32-ball 65 against Australia in the semi-finals, but will face Sohail Khan, in the final. The Pakistan speedster has already gotten the better of Uthappa, once in the tournament.
Khan has picked seven wickets in five games, while Uthappa is the third-highest run-getter in the tournament, with 215 runs in six innings. The winner of this particular player battle, could be crucial for the outcome of the WCL 2024 final.
India Champions vs Pakistan Champions: Squads for WCL final 2024
India Champions Squad: Robin Uthappa(w), Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh(c), Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Pawan Negi, Vinay Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rahul Shukla, RP Singh, Naman Ojha, Saurabh Tiwary, Anureet Singh, Rahul Sharma
Pakistan Champions Squad: Kamran Akmal(w), Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan(c), Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal, Tanvir Ahmed
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