Pakistan were off to a good start against Australia even before the match started as the cricket team got a shot in the arms after the medical board declared dashing opening Muhammad Rizwan and middle-order masterblaster Shoaib Malik fit to play in the ICC T20 World Cup second semi-final being played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium tonight, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Both the players were suffering from flu since yesterday and were doubtful for today’s high-voltage semi-final.

The medical board of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today examined both the players and declared that they were fit to play in today’s match.

Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Rizwan both caught flu and did not take part in the team’s practice session on Wednesday.

The media manager of the Pakistan cricket team, Ibrahim Badees was quoted as saying that COVID-19 tests of both the players came back negative, but the doctor had advised them to rest.

Pakistan had played five games with the same squad in the World T20 and captain Babar Azam was in no mood to alter the winning combination.

Reporter Hafiz Shahbaz