Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh predicted that Pakistan and Australia would lock horns in the World Cup final.

In a conversation with former English captain Michael Vaughan, the Australian cricketers named Pakistan as the favourites to crown the World Cup, which is going to be held in India.

Adam Gilchrist also seconded the prediction of Mitchell Marsh that Pakistan and Australia will play against each other in the mega tournament’s finale.

Reacting to this, Vaughan warned Marsh on the lighter side, saying, "You [Mitchell Marsh] have taken out India from the list of favourites, for which you might face backlash on social media."

Marsh responded to the query, saying, "Somebody asked me about the World Cup match between India and Australia. I answered that India will be bundled out for 65, chasing the Australian equation of 370."

"But Indians took my joke regarding the match between Australia and India as serious," Marsh added.

– Mohammad Rizwan throws his weight behind Fakhar Zaman – 

Separately, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan on Friday threw his weight behind opener Fakhar Zaman, despite the latter going through a rough patch.

Speaking to the media before the all-important Super Four match against arch-rivals India on September 10, Rizwan said: "The weather is not in our hands, but the preparation is."

Regarding the interaction with Indian players, Rizwan said: "Not only with the Indian players but also with the rest of the players, we talk about the performance."

"All the players share good relations with each other, whether they are Indian players or not." However, the environment on the cricket field is different," Rizwan added.

He made it clear that the Babar Azam-inspired side did not to change the combination of the openers.

Reacting to legendary cricketer Javed Miandad’s comment on Rizwan’s batting, he said, "I am humbled that Javed Miandad deemed me as Chhupa Rustam, which really matters to me. Such comments boost my morale a lot."

He also underlined the reasons why Pakistan is currently the number-one side in the ODIs. "The role of our fast bowler in placing us at the number one spot is commendable. All our three bowlers [Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi] are putting the oppositions on the backfoot."

Recalling the previous match against India on Saturday, Rizwan said, "The 267-run target posted by India against Pakistan was not so easy to chase".