Babar Azam-led Pakistan will cross swords with Aaron Finch-led Australia side in the second semi-final of the ICC World T20 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Dubbed as strong title contenders in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, Azam-led Pakistan will hope to upstage Australia in order to book their berth for a place in the summit clash with Kane Williamson’s New Zealand on Thursday. 

Azam-led Pakistan side will enter the semi-final clash of the ICC World T20 2021 with their tails up. In their road to the semi-finals, the Azam-led Pakistan side recorded a historic win over arch-rivals Team India before the Green Army defeated New Zealand in the Super 12 phase of the elite tournament. Finch-led Australia have regained confidence by upstaging South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh in the group stage. 

While Pakistan are undefeated in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, Australia were battered by England which turned out to be the only defeat for the Finch-led side. Interestingly, Australia have won all of their four knockout games against Pakistan in ICC events. Australia had defeated Pakistan when both teams last met in the semi-final stage of the T20 World Cup. Mike Hussey-inspired Australian had shattered Pakistan’s hopes of entering the final of the T20 World Cup in 2010. 

However, Pakistan have an edge over Australia as the Green Army has won 13 matches against the Aussies in the shortest format. Australia, who are yet to win a T20 World Cup title, have won nine matches against Pakistan in T20I cricket. Both teams have won three matches each in the T20 World Cup against each other.

Australia’s David Warner is the leading run-getter against Pakistan in the shortest format with 348 runs to his name. Pakistan’s Azam is the top-scorer against Australia in T20Is with 278 runs under his belt. Mitchell Starc has taken 13 wickets for Aussies while Shadab Khan has scalped nine for the Green Army in Pakistan vs Australia matches.