Key points
- Free entry announced for historic fixture
- USA hold famous Super Over win
COLOMBO: Cricket supporters are set to witness a historic moment on Tuesday as the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground stages its first-ever international match under floodlights.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter will feature Pakistan against the United States, with play scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time. Entry for spectators will be free for the occasion, with gates 5 and 7 opening at 17:00.
The venue has already hosted two matches in the tournament, including the World Cup opener on 7 February, when Pakistan took on the Netherlands and emerged victorious.
Meanwhile, the USA named Pakistan-origin pacer Ehsan Adil as a replacement for Jasdeep Singh in their squad ahead of the clash.
The Event Technical Committee (ETC) of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 approved Adil’s inclusion after Jasdeep was ruled out due to a right shoulder injury sustained during a warm-up match against New Zealand on 5 February.
Adil, who previously represented Pakistan in three Tests and six ODIs, is yet to make his debut for the USA but was drafted into the squad following the ETC’s mandatory approval for all tournament replacements.
Historically, Pakistan and the USA have met only once in T20 cricket. That encounter took place during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas.
Pakistan posted 159/7, with Babar Azam scoring 44 and Shadab Khan 40.
The USA matched the total at 159/3, thanks to a half-century from Monank Patel.
The thrilling contest went to a Super Over, where the USA scored 18/1, restricting Pakistan to 13/1 and securing a historic victory — widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.
