KEY POINTS
- Pakistan’s brittle middle order, which collapsed against the Netherlands, remains their biggest vulnerability heading into the clash.
- USA, still haunted by their last-over loss to India, seeks to replicate their famous 2024 Super Over win against Pakistan.
- Key pacers Shaheen Afridi and Saurabh Netravalkar are under pressure to redeem themselves after expensive opening games.
- Both teams treat this as a must-win ‘knockout’ game to stabilise their campaigns in a high-stakes group.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take on the United States of America (USA) in their second Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Tuesday, in a contest where both teams will be desperate to build momentum after contrasting opening-day dramas.
A clash of teams seeking confidence
Both sides enter the fixture aware of how narrowly their tournament openers could have swung the other way. Pakistan scraped through with a nervy three-wicket victory over the Netherlands, saved by a composed Faheem Ashraf in the penultimate over.
The USA, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking defeat to India, falling just short after a spectacular late fightback led by Shubham Ranjane and Harmeet Singh chased down 56 runs from the last three overs, to lose by 21 runs.
For Pakistan, their primary concern remains a brittle middle order, which collapsed under minimal pressure against the Dutch. While their bowling and fielding were largely impressive, the form of Babar Azam and the vulnerability of the batting lineup beyond the top order are significant worries.
The USA, famous for their Super Over victory against Pakistan in the 2024 World Cup, arrive with a point to prove. They demonstrated against India that they possess the bowling discipline, through seamers like Shadley van Schalkwyk and spinners Mohammad Mohsin and Harmeet Singh, to trouble top batting sides. However, their top-order failure against India highlighted a key area for improvement. Potential injuries to key bowlers Ali Khan and Shubham Ranjane could test their resources.
Players in the spotlight
All eyes will be on two key pacers. Pakistan will need a much-improved performance from their spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was unusually expensive in the powerplay against the Netherlands.
For the USA, the focus will be on Saurabh Netravalkar. The left-arm seamer, who bowled the famous match-winning Super Over against Pakistan in 2024, had a forgettable outing against India, conceding a record 65 runs. The USA will hope he can recapture his past magic, especially if Ali Khan is unavailable.
Pitch and Conditions
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha noted the surprising amount of grass on the SSC surface for their first game. Having now experienced the conditions, Pakistan may feel better acclimatised. The USA, traveling from Mumbai with less than 72 hours to adjust, will face a quick turnaround. Cloudy weather is forecast, but significant rain is not expected to disrupt play.
The Stakes
The match represents a critical juncture for both teams. Pakistan cannot afford another shaky performance that exposes their fragile confidence, while the USA is hunting for a historic win to ignite their campaign and prove their 2024 upset was no fluke.
With the cricket world, and even the US President, taking note, Tuesday’s clash promises high tension and compelling drama.
Team News (Probable XIs)
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan/Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.
USA: Andries Gous (wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel (capt), Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan/Jasdeep Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar.
