Remember this?

The post-match presentation after the 20-20 between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai Sports City was one of the most interesting presentations I have witnessed.

It was very different from those that were held after the ODIs, particularly because of the interactions between some of the players.

Unlike the Gala Dinner, which was held a few days back, the Pakistan and Australia players mingled with each other. There were animated discussions, jokes were cracked, and it was all very amusing to watch.

Here are Younis Khan and Brad Haddin posing with the T20 World Cup Trophy, a couple of hours before the Gala Dinner that was hosted on Tuesday night.

Strange why they were posing with the World Cup Trophy and not with the one they will be playing for tonight.

Australia's and Pakistan's preparations for the T20 World Cup start tonight as they clash in the final match of the Chapal Cup Series.

It will be the first ever T20 International to be played in the UAE and it will be the last day of my stint with Dubai Sports City.

The match will be played in the Ring of Fire and the news is that it will be a full house. None of the ODIs have had full houses yet, which has been slightly disappointing.

But tonight's match has promised a lot of entertainment and has the potential to be a lot of fun, so it could very well be a sell out.

The match itself should be a close contest considering the way the ODI series has been played.

Both the ODI's hosted in Dubai were low scoring games, so I would not expect a high scoring 20-20 game.

I have a feeling the ball will do most of the talking once again.

Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi are very dangerous 20-20 bowlers and will be worth their weight tonight.

While Shoaib Akhtar in a 4-over spell can be potentially lethal.

Doug Bollinger has had a magnificent debut series and would like to cash in further on his success.

Ben Hilfenhaus, Stuart Clark, and Nathan Bracken have all been a handful for the Pakistanis and will continue to threaten today.

Plus, with the wicket providing a lot of spin, the Pakistani trio of Afridi, Malik, and Ajmal, along with Nathan Hauritz, will surely come into play.

I think its going to be a tough time for the batsmen.

I'm going to be at the ground, on duty for the last time. I will be around at the media centre but I plan to be a part of the crowd as well; something I have not done at the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium; hence I will not be reporting live from the ground.

But I will post after the game is over and will have more pics for you as well!

The best part about tonight is that the Dubai Sports City Magazine comes out - it will carry my first ever published articles.

A 20-20 match, Pakistan and Australia, Dubai, a magazine with my articles, cricket, fully packed stadium, and a whole lot more - not a bad way to spend a Thursday night!

Are they seriously blind?

The video is out there for everyone to see.

So what are Ponting and Haddin smoking?

I mean seriously.

Do they not see what happened? Do they really think the world is blind?

Don't they realise what this is doing to their credibility?

Not that Ponting had much of it anyway, but with the kind of statements he's making, what is he trying to prove?

And why haven't the match officials taken any action?

Rashid Latif got banned for 5 matches and stripped of the captaincy for doing something similar.

India would have been threatening to cancel the tour if it were there wicket keeper who had done something like that.

If it were a subcontinental player, the Australia and English media would have been full of remarks about cheating.

I can't believe that Haddin can actually come out and say that Vettori's claims are poor and low.

How can he do that?

We all saw his reaction after the team was celebrating. Its obvious that he knew what happened. So what does he think of the public?

And whats all this with Ponting claiming that Vettori apologised?

The Aussies are crumbling and how.

Sad, just sad.

Haddin needs to be banned and Ponting, while away on his leave, needs to be told to shut up.

Not the test team.

Atleast not till they find someone with even quarter of the magic that Warne had and an opening pair to match the Hayden & Langer of old.

Its their ODI team that excites me.

Shaun Marsh is one of the reasons but there are more.

They have a series coming up against South Africa and recently announced their squad.

And unlike their test cricketers, their ODI cricketers seem to have a buzz around them.

In Shaun Marsh at the top of the order they have one of the most exciting batsmen in world cricket today.

With Hayden's ODI career coming to a halt and Shane Watson out with yet another injury, I'm not sure who will partner Marsh.

Marsh and Watson, in my view, formed a great combination at the top and they could be the openers to look out for in the future if Watson can get some more cow blood into his body.

Looking at Australia's squad, James Hopes seems like the most likely option.

Marsh & Hopes did the job in the 1st ODI against Bangladesh in August last year.

And they did so during the IPL as well for the Kings XI.

We know what another IPL opening pair has done last year - that too in all forms of the game.

Brad Haddin has done the job as well in the past, not so successfully though.

However, with the form he is in these days, it might be the perfect opportunity to send him at the top of the innings with Marsh.

Nevertheless, whether its Marsh & Hopes or Marsh & Haddin, fireworks will be the order of the day.

Good attacking cricket will be on view.

And for some reason, I feel it will be better than watching the Australian test team of late.

These guys are not the only ones that get me excited.

Cameron White is another.

I have a thing for leggies. But more than that its White's power hitting that makes him what he is.

I'm glad the Aussie selectors have ignored their blunder of playing him as a leg spinner in the tests against India and have stuck with him for the ODIs.

The usual suspects - Ponting, Clarke, and Hussey - are there, but they're hardly exciting.

Actually Hussey is in ODIs. Ignore his test style. In ODIs he can be brutal and has been.

And then there's another Hussey.

David Hussey.

Now thats a player you don't want to miss.

He can hit and he can hit hard and far.

We saw glimpses of what he can do in the IPL and then in the West Indies.

But I'm sure there's more to come from him.

He's been in smashing form in the ongoing 20-20 Big Bash.

How can anyone not be excited about him.

So while Australia's test batsmen seem lost in time and don't seem all that threatening anymore, the ODI batting line up seems to be a fine one.

Marsh, Hopes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Hussey, White, Haddin

Read that again.

Marsh, Hopes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Hussey, White, Haddin

Thats why the Australian ODI team excites me.

Steyn & Co. - watch out!