Pakistan handed Australia the worst possible conclusion to their T20 World Cup warm-up as the Mitchell Marsh-led side slipped to their heaviest T20 international defeat, completing a third successive collapse. A 3-0 sweep of Australia just days before a World Cup was always going to feel bigger than most bilateral results. The scenes reflected that. Packed stands, fans celebrating as if a trophy had already been secured, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeting twice in delight and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stepping into the dressing room to congratulate the players.
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It looked and felt like a statement. Yet once the immediate emotion fades, the series says as much about Australia’s preparation as it does about Pakistan’s momentum.
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