'Cricket is loading' at iconic MCG ahead of India-Pakistan clash

Preparations have started at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a blockbuster ICC T20 World Cup 2022 clash between India and Pakistan which will take place next monthIndia will kick off its T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on October 23 2022 It will not only start the World Cup campaign of both nations but also will be the first clash to be hosted by the stadium during the global cricketing eventThe official Twitter handle of Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG took to social media to share pictures of some work going on at the field Vehicles and machines were being used to work on the playing fieldAlso read ENG vs IND Indian Womens team gears up for Jhulan Goswamis last hurrahAnd just like that Cricket is loading tweeted the MCGSo far this year fans have been treated to three big clashes between two Asian giants one in womens cricket and two in mens cricketIndia and Pakistan womens teams gave fans their first taste of this big rivalry on July 31 2022 when they squared off in a cricket tournament at the Commonwealth Games 2022 In this clash Pakistan was bundled out for just 99 runs in 18 overs and Sneh Ranas spin 215 made her opponent dance to her tunes Chasing 100 India did their job comfortably within 114 overs with eight wickets in hand Smriti Mandhanas 63 off 42 balls guided her team to an easy winIndia would go on to win the silver medal in cricket at CWG 2022 making historyThe starstudded mens teams of both countries clashed on August 28 to kickoff the Asia Cup 2022 What fans got was one of the best clashes between both sides in recent years as it went down the wireBhuvneshwar Kumar 426 and Hardik Pandya 325 were absolutely lethal with their pace bundling out Pakistan for just 147 in 195 overs Star batter Mohammad Rizwan is topscored for Pakistan with 43 off 42 ballsChasing 148 India did lose openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul early but knocks from Virat Kohli 35 Ravindra Jadeja 35 and Hardik Pandya 33 guided Men in Blue to a fivewicket win with two balls to spareJust a week later on September 4 both sides clashed again during the tournaments Super Four phaseIn that match the quickfire 54run stand between KL Rahul 28 and skipper Rohit Sharma 28 and Virat Kohlis blistering 60 off 44 balls guided Men in Blue to 1817 in their 20 overs Spinner Shadab Khan 231 was the leading bowler for PakistanRizwan 71 and allrounder Mohammad Nawaz 42 turned things in favour of Pakistan with their quick knocks and Arshdeeps dropped catch of Asif Ali added a lot of drama and tension to the match which India lost by five wickets with a ball to spareThis loss became a huge reason for Team Indias early exit from Asia Cup 2022 They lost their next game to Sri Lanka as well and failed to defend their title by finishing at third in the Super Four phaseSo when Men in Blue steps inside the iconic jampacked MSG in October it will be on their mind to avenge two of their very painful losses to Pakistan with the first one being a 10wicket loss to Pakistan in the 2021 edition of the tournament which led to Indias exit from the tournament in Super 12 phase itselfThe loss at Asia Cup will also be fresh in their minds a loss that deprived them of a chance at becoming the kings of Asia for the eighth timeEyes will be on stars like KL Rahul skipper Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli Hardik Pandya Suryakumar Yadav Jasprit Bumrah etc to perform to the best of their abilitiesIndia squad for South Africa T20Is Rohit Sharma Captain KL Rahul vicecaptain Virat Kohli Suryakumar Yadav Deepak Hooda Rishabh Pant wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik wicketkeeper R Ashwin Yuzvendra Chahal Axar Patel Arshdeep Singh Mohd Shami Harshal Patel Deepak Chahar Jasprit BumrahThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever