The Latest: India 105-0 after 20 overs against Pakistan

By Associated Press 17 June 2019, 12:00AM

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Day 18 of the Cricket World Cup (all times local):

11: 50 a.m.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have combined for an unbeaten 105-run partnership in the first 20 overs of India's Cricket World Cup game against archrival Pakistan.

Sharma and Rahul were opening a one-day international innings together for the first time, with Rahul promoted to the top of the batting order as cover for the injured Shikhar Dhawan.

Sharma went on the attack early and raced to 64 from 57 deliveries as India evenly paced the innings with 52 in the first 10 overs and 53 in the second 10-over span. Rahul was playing an anchor role and was batting on 39.

The forecast rain has held off since Pakistan won the toss and decided to field, hoping to take advantage of the overcast conditions early with the new ball.

Left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir troubled the batsmen early in a four-over spell that conceded eight runs, but he was warned twice by the umpire for running on the protected area of the pitch on his follow-through. One more warning will result in him being suspended from bowling for the remainder of the innings.

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10:15 a.m.

Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has won the toss and sent India in to bat in a Cricket World Cup match between the archrivals.

India has a 6-0 record in World Cup head-to-heads against Pakistan, including the 2011 semifinal at Mohali enroute to the title.

But Pakistan has already beaten top-ranked England in this tournament and had an upset win over India in the Champions Trophy final here two years go.

India made one injury-enforced change to the lineup that beat Australia in its last completed match, with injured opener Shikhar Dhawan replaced by Vijay Shankar.

India skipper Virat Kohli said Shankar was "a solid batsman, brilliant in the field, and gives us a few overs of bowling as well."

Pakistan made two changes to the lineup that lost to Australia on Wednesday, with fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and Asif Ali replaced by spinners Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.

Lineups:

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir

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9:40 a.m.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has weighed in on selection of the national XI for the Cricket World Cup group game against India.

It's not garden-variety political interference, though. Imran led Pakistan to the Cricket World Cup title in 1992.

Imran has advised skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to go in with specialists in the batting and bowling departments.

"In order to have a winning offensive strategy Sarfaraz must go in with specialist batsmen and bowlers," Imran posted on Twitter in the hours leading up to Sunday's match in Manchester, England.

Khan also said that both teams will be under "great mental pressure, and the power of the mind will decide the outcome of the match. In Sarfaraz we are fortunate to have a bold captain & today he will have to be at his daring best."

India has won all six previous World Cup head-to-heads with archrival Pakistan. Imran said No. 2-ranaked India would start as favorite to win but advised the Pakistan players to "banish all fear of losing. Just give your best and fight till the last ball. Then accept whatever the result like true sportsmen. The nation's prayers are with all of you. Good Luck."

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9 a.m.

Much hinges on Manchester's weather and whether or not the group-stage encounter of the Cricket World Cup achieves a result between India and Pakistan.

It was overcast and cool on Sunday morning, an hour before the scheduled toss at Old Trafford. The stadium was expected to be at a capacity of 23,500 people — tickets which could have been sold 20-times over.

India has beaten Pakistan in all six previous World Cup encounters, including the 2011 semifinal at Mohali before it went on to win the title on home soil.

But Pakistan had an upset win over India in the Champions Trophy final in England two years ago and has won more games overall in the meetings in one-day internationals.

The forecast includes showers and generally overcast conditions on Sunday, but organizers were hoping to at least get the game started on schedule at 10:30 a.m. local time.

India won its opening games against South Africa and defending champion Australia before having to share the points with 2015 finalist New Zealand following a washout in Nottingham.

Pakistan lost its opening game to West Indies, and then rebounded to upset top-ranked England. It followed that with a washout against Sri Lanka and a loss to Australia on Wednesday.

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More AP cricket: www.apnews.com/cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 17 June 2019, 12:00AM

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