T20 World Cup: Pakistan Star Shoaib Malik Has "Butterflies" Over Facing Australia

Veteran Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik admitted a T20 World Cup semi-final against a formidable Australia will give him "butterflies".

Veteran Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik on Sunday admitted a T20 World Cup semi-final against a formidable Australia will give him "butterflies". Pakistan completed the Super 12 stage with five wins in as many games with a clinical 72-run win over qualifiers Scotland in Sharjah. Shoaib smashed a quickfire 18-ball 54 not out -- the fastest half century of the tournament -- as Pakistan scored 189-2 in 20 overs before keeping Scotland down to 117-6. This gave Pakistan a mouth-watering semi-final against Australia in Dubai -- a repeat of the 2010 T20 World Cup last four which the Australians won on the last ball in St Lucia.

"Of course, we are watching Australia play good cricket and so are we, so it will be a tough match for both teams," said 39-year-old Shoaib after his man-of-the-match knock which contained six sixes and a four.

"It will be a tough challenge for both teams and will give us butterflies but that is always encouraging."

Shoaib, who has played in all seven editions of the T20 World Cup, will treat Thursday's semi-final as "just another game".

"We will take the semi-final as just another game and I think if we do that then we will be able to plan things in a better way," he said.