T20 World Cup: Fans Over The Moon After ICC Places India, Pakistan In Same Group

The International Cricket Council(ICC) announced the groups for The T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The biggest talking point of the announcement was that arch-rivals India Pakistan were pooled in the same Group 2.

This year’s tournament will be played in two stages. The first stage will be a qualifier from where four teams will reach the Super 12 stage. Besides six associate nations, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will also compete in the qualifiers after they failed to earn automatic qualification through their T20I rankings.

© Reuters

England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, and the two qualifying nations form the Group A, while India and Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan and two other qualifiers were placed in the Group B.

After the ICC’s announcement, fans from both the countries were over the moon with the prospect of watching the two South Asian neighbours clash once again at the biggest stage.

Scenes at the @ICC office right now#T20worldcup pic.twitter.com/Z4wPrIutbI

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 16, 2021

Cricket is the most popular sport in both the countries and the rivalry between India Pakistan is second to none in the world but sadly the fans have to wait for the multi-nation tournaments to see their side take on each other.

India and Pakistan last faced off in the 2019 World Cup in England where Virat Kohli’s men came out on top, thanks to a brilliant century by opener Rohit Sharma.

In fact, India is yet to lose a single World Cup match against Pakistan and given the past record, fans began celebrating yet another win.

#T20worldcup #ICC
India and Pakistan in the same group. One more mouka mouka celebration for India. pic.twitter.com/oQQ4pm5gjq

— Imran Saiyyed (@SaiyyedImran) July 16, 2021

BREAKING: India and Pakistan to clash in the Super 12 round of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. #T20WorldCup

Le ICT fans:- pic.twitter.com/ZdWKz8OfHU

— TANGENT (@pra_tea_k) July 16, 2021

Icc after putting india and Pakistan in same group to increase ticket sales and trp:#T20worldcup pic.twitter.com/Wu5Oiinze9

— Last Human (@pLastHuman) July 16, 2021

While most of the fans thought India were placed in a comparatively easier group, some were worried with the fact that New Zealand were also pooled in the same group and their concern definitely had some ground.

India’s last two knockout defeats came against Kane Williamson’s side and supporters wanted to avoid them at all cost. India lost to the Kiwis in the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup, while their latest heartbreak came last month when the Blackcaps came out on top in the World Test Championship final in Southampton.

When you get to know:

Pak is in our NZ is also in our
Group. Group.#WT20 #T20worldcup pic.twitter.com/SIoY7r2Zub

— Shubham (@Walkingmiless) July 16, 2021

People are happy that india and pakistan are in same group. India can beat pak easily..#T20worldcup

But, india will have to face either west indies or england in semi-final ☠️☠️

Situation of indians rn ; pic.twitter.com/9V4YtTDH7L

— Naman (@ama_joking) July 16, 2021Qualifiers

Group A: Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia

Group B: Bangladesh, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, Oman 

Super 12 

Group 1: England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Winner Group A, Runner-up Group B

Group 2:  India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Runner-up Group A, Winner Group B

The last time India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy was way back in 2007 when a young team led by MS Dhoni shocked the world by winning the inaugural edition in South Africa.

India and Pakistan were placed in the same group in the first-ever World T20 and we all know how things turned out.