KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja told the Pakistan cricket team that they should be proud of their "incredible comeback" in the T20 World Cup in Australia in a casual pep talk with the Men in Green.
The Babar Azam-led unit suffered defeats in their first two matches, against India and Zimbabwe, but bounced back to make it to the final of the event.
Pakistan will face England in the final on Sunday, November 13, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Raja met the Pakistan team in Melbourne on Friday ahead of the final.
“You should be proud of this incredible comeback. This has happened because of unity within the team. When you play for each other, it defines your performance on the field,” Raja said in a video released by the PCB.
“It has meant a great deal to the fans in Pakistan,” he added.
Raja also recalled Pakistan’s triumphant 1992 World Cup campaign under the inspirational leadership of Imran Khan.
“We had the shortest pre-match talk [before 1992 World Cup final]. Imran [Khan] was the captain and he told us to go out there and enjoy the occasion because that was something which would never happen in our lives again,” he said.
England and Pakistan's staff will be poring over weather charts as well as tactics in the lead up to the Twenty20 World Cup final, with a gloomy forecast threatening to scupper the decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Heavy rain is expected during Sunday's match-day and also the reserve day on Monday as a multi-year La Nina weather phenomenon continues to drench much of eastern Australia.
The tournament has already seen a slew of Super 12 matches washed out, though the semi-finals passed without disruption in Sydney and Adelaide.
While the forecast could put a dampener on the crowd at the MCG, organisers will plough ahead with the starting time of 7 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Sunday and hope each side can squeeze 10 overs in, the minimum required for the final.
If forced to reschedule, the match would start at 3 p.m. (0400 GMT) on Monday, with players and officials on notice to be prepared to play well into the evening if the weather forces it.
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