Team news, likely XIs, form guide, players to watch, odds, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, umpire appointments and everything else you need to know
Pakistan take on Namibia in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup.
The game is scheduled for 2pm local time (10am BST) on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
The game will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium: Ground guide
Pakistan have what can be accurately judged as two warm-up matches ahead of the semi-finals, which they are destined to qualify amid squabble to join them.
Victory over India, New Zealand and Afghanistan means they're likely to progress with a 100 per cent record, assuming they can navigate their way past Namibia and Scotland.
Namibia do have their fate in their own hands with regard to qualification, knowing victory in each of their remaining games will see them through.
It seems fair to include that observation, however deeply rooted in fantasy it is, given what they have contributed to this T20 World Cup.
Realistically, however, the run of matches against Pakistan, India and New Zealand kick starts preparations for next year's tournament in Australia, for which they have already qualified.
They have never faced any of the trio in an official T20I before. This is what many of these players have been striving for and they deserve their moment.
"We're fully aware that it's going to now get really tough," said head coach Pierre de Bruyn. "We just don't want to be a team that's just going to rock up and provide middle practice. We want to continue competing and we need to sharpen up our skills and we need to believe."
Dafabet are understandably backing Pakistan to prevail in this clash, offering odds of 1/20 in their favour.
Namibia start as rank outsiders to come through and claim their fourth tournament win, at 10/1.
Babar Azam is Pakistan's leading run-scorer in the World Cup and you can back him to build on that and be the team's top-scorer in this match at 2/1.
Meanwhile, David Wiese is Namibia's top scorer across their five games and he is 15/4 to lead the way again for the minnows.
Of the Pakistan top order, Fakhar Zaman will be the one eager to find some form ahead of the knock-out phase.
The No.152 in the men's T20 Player Index, he's added 41 runs across his two innings, returns which have been overshadowed by the quality batting either side of him.
His 30 against Afghanistan was a positive sign and was his best T20I score since April against South Africa at Centurion.
In a competitive field, Ruben Trumpelmann can have a strong claim to have the name of the tournament.
But the left-arm seamer hasn't just filled the position on the teamsheet, he's been one of the leading seamers in the tournament.
Trumpelmann has found swing with the new ball, an elusive skill with the what kookaburra that brought him three wickets in the opening over against Scotland.
And with an economy rate of 7.11 he's proving himself to be both potent and frugal. Now with the opportunity to go up against Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan he can test himself against the very best.
This is one of two opportunities for Pakistan to rotate and keep everyone fresh ahead of the last four. The most likely players to come in are Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim, who could slot in and not compromise the balance of the side. Haider Ali is unlikely to come into the top three.
The Namibians have only used 12 players across their campaign and though they have an intense run-in are very much looking at these games as rare opportunities against full member nations. Expect the same XI that has done them proud for much of the competition, with Stephan Baard missing out.
The following umpires and match referees have been named by the ICC to officiate in the T20 World Cup 2021:
Referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Javagal Srinath
Umpires: Chris Brown, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Paul Wilson
The following officials have been allocated to this fixture:
On-field umpires: Gaffaney, Brown
TV umpire: Reiffel
Fourth umpire: Illingworth
Referee: Crowe
Full T20 World Cup officials appointments: Click here
For one of the first times in the tournament temperatures will dip below 30 degrees Celcius, helped by a northwesterly breeze of 15mph.
Follow the Met Office forecast here.
Yes, though Covid protocols including the wearing of face masks will be in place.
Click here to visit the ICC's ticketing site.
Namibia have far from disgraced themselves in this competition but they're facing a huge step up in quality over the coming days. Pakistan should make light work of this one as they warm-up for the last four.
T20 WORLD CUP TEAM GUIDES
Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will broadcast the series in the United Kingdom, with the content available online via its streaming platform Sky Go.
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra will have live ball-by-ball radio commentary of all tournament matches, accessible through the BBC Sport website, BBC Sounds or DAB radio.
The Star Sports network is showing the tournament in India. Matches can be streamed via Disney+ Hotstar
Other broadcasters by territory:
Australia - Fox Sports, Channel 9, Kayo Sports
New Zealand – Sky Sport New Zealand
Pakistan - PTV Sports, Ten Sports
Bangladesh - Ghazi Tv (GTV)
Sri Lanka – SLRC (Channel Eye)
South Africa – SuperSport
Caribbean – ESPN
Middle East and North Africa – eLife TV, StarzPlay, Switch TV
USA – ESPN+
Singapore - Star Cricket, Star Hub and Singtel
Malaysia - Fox International Channels
Hong Kong - Star Cricket
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Stephen Baard, Karl Birkenstock. Michau du Preez, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green, Nicol Lofie-Eaton, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Michael van Lingen, David Wiese, Craig Williams, Picky Ya France
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Namibia: Craig Williams, Michael van Lingen, Jan Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus, Zane Green, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz
T20 World Cup Hub: News, features, stats, live scores
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