COLOMBO: United States of America (USA) captain Monank Patel won the toss and elected to field first in their high-stakes Group A encounter against Pakistan at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Tuesday.
Captain’s Call: USA Backs Chase on Batting Track
Explaining his decision, US skipper Monank Patel cited favourable conditions for a chase. “We will bowl first,” Patel said. “It looks like a good batting track and there’s a consistent breeze. Once we know the target, it will be easier to chase down.” Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, will now set the pace in this pivotal match.
Recent History Favours Underdog USA
The fixture carries the weight of a famous upset. The only previous T20I meeting between these sides was at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the USA stunned Pakistan in a dramatic Super Over victory. That historic result adds a psychological edge to the contest, with the USA holding a 1-0 head-to-head advantage.
Form Guide and Team Line-ups
Pakistan’s form in their last five completed T20Is is strong, with four wins and one loss. The USA has won three of its last five outings.
Squads
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
USA: Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane and Ehsan Adil.
