Tag: Pakistan vs USA

COLOMBO: Cricket fans will be treated to free entry when Pakistan take on the United States of America (USA) in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Tuesday.

The match, scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST), will mark the first-ever international floodlit game hosted at the iconic SSC Ground, offering spectators a rare opportunity to witness a milestone moment in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history.

The venue has already staged two matches in the ongoing tournament, including Pakistan’s campaign opener against the Netherlands on February 7, where the Green Shirts secured a comfortable victory.

Pakistan will head into the contest mindful of their previous meeting with the USA, which came during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dallas.

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In that dramatic encounter, Pakistan posted 159 for 7, courtesy of contributions from Babar Azam (44) and Shadab Khan (40), only for the USA to level the scores at 159 for 3, powered by a half-century from captain Monank Patel.

The match went into a Super Over, where the USA stunned Pakistan, registering one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.

Meanwhile, the USA have strengthened their squad by drafting in former Pakistan pacer Ehsan Adil as a replacement for injured Jasdeep Singh.

Adil, who has represented the Green Shirts in three Tests and six ODIs, is yet to make his international debut for the USA and was approved as a replacement by the tournament’s Event Technical Committee.

READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan-born pacer Ehsan Adil included in USA squad

Former pacer Mohammad Asif has made a bold prediction that the United States of America (USA) will defeat Pakistan again in the next edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026.

The USA recently handed Pakistan a shocking defeat in the T20 World Cup 2024, which was their first-ever appearance at a major ICC event.

Mohammad Asif, during an appearance on a local YouTube podcast, expressed a strong belief that the way Pakistan is playing lately, they can lose to the USA once again.

“We lost to the USA, who were playing in the T20 World Cup for the first time. They didn’t even qualify, they played because they were the hosts,” Asif said.

“The way the situation is going at this moment, the USA will beat Pakistan in the next World Cup, in 2026. I’ll guarantee you that,” he predicted.

The former pacer suggested that the Pakistan cricket team requires a fresh approach with a new captain, coach, and a comprehensive long-term strategy ahead of the next T20 World Cup.

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“Before the 2026 World Cup, we have to change the captain, coach and the players. There needs to be planning for the two years that this is the team, this is the 20 players we want to work with. But we are repeating the same things, which is why I am telling you this,” he suggested.

Notably, Pakistan had a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign courtesy of the aforementioned shock loss against the USA.

The Green Shirts lost the game in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target. Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

Following the defeat against the USA, Pakistan succumbed to a frustrating six-run defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament. The former champions got on the winning track when they registered a hard-fought seven-wicket victory over Canada to keep Super Eights hopes alive.

However, the USA’s match against Ireland was abandoned without a ball bowled due to persistent rain in Florida, resulting in Pakistan getting knocked out of the tournament.

READ: Babar Azam suffers steep decline, Rizwan makes big leap in ICC Test Rankings

Canada’s captain Saad Bin Zafar took a dig at the Pakistan team following their shocking defeat in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign opener against co-host United States of America (USA).

Pakistan-based cricketer Saad, who has been given the leadership role of the inexperienced Canadian side, stated that he aims to do against Ireland what the USA did to Pakistan.

“We would’ve bowled first as well. If we can put decent runs on the board, will not be easy to change. It’s always good to see an associate country to beat a full member country,” stated Saad Bin Zafar at the toss against Ireland.

“Hopefully what USA did to Pakistan, we can do to Ireland. If you play your A game on the day, you can beat anyone,” he added.

The Pakistan men’s cricket team on Thursday, stooped to a new low as the former champions succumbed to an upset five-run defeat against the USA after an enthralling match which was decided in the Super Over.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam entrusted senior pacer Mohammad Amir to bowl the Super Over. However, the left-arm pacer struggled to maintain his line and length and went on to concede 18 runs.

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Amir bowled three wides in the over while poor fielding and overthrows saw the Green Shirts leaking away more runs.

Set to chase 19 in the one-over eliminator, Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman came out to bat for Pakistan while Saurabh Netravalkar was given the ball for the USA.

The right-handed batter played out a dot on the first delivery but hit Netravalkar for a four on the next delivery.

The boundary put the left-arm pacer under immense pressure as he bowled a wide on the next delivery. However, Netravalkar was soon to recollect himself and dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed on the next delivery.

Pakistan then needed 14 off the last three deliveries and Netravalkar displayed nerves of steel to defend the total for the USA and steered the associate nation to a historic victory.

READ: Wasim Akram lambasts Pakistan over “pathetic performance” against USA

DALLAS: Legendary pacer Wasim Akram termed Pakistan’s performance “pathetic” as they succumbed to a shock loss in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign opener against the United States of America (USA) on Thursday.

Akram, while speaking to an Indian channel, did not mince his words in criticising the national team’s performance before praising the associate nation for playing well in tense situations.

“Pathetic performance. They were playing against the USA. I was confident, that Pakistani supporters were confident that they would win but credit to the USA for the way they played their cricket,” stated Akram.

“The first innings, the second innings when they came out to chase and then of course the Super Over. I mean 19 runs in Super Overs is like getting 36 runs in an over. So well done USA,” he added.

Akram also predicted that the Babar Azam-led Pakistan would struggle to qualify for the Super 8s, given the current situation of Group A.

“Pakistan will struggle from here onwards to qualify for the Super 8s because they have to play India and two other good teams too.”

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Wasim Akram also highlighted the turning point of the match before pointing out the errors, the national team made.

“I think turning point of the game… was the way they got early wickets. They had one little partnership between Shadab and Babar and then nobody looked comfortable. The fielding was average, overall cricket was very average by Pakistan.

“Winning and losing is a part of it, we all know it but till the last ball, show some fight, put some dives. Catches are being dropped, wickets are tough to get. So yeah, it was a bad day for Pakistan I suppose,” Akram concluded.

Former champions Pakistan had a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign as they endured a shock loss against the USA in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

READ: Former cricketers lash out at Pakistan after shock loss against USA

Legendary Pakistan cricketers Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi lashed out at the national team following their upset defeat against the United States of America (USA) in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan endured a five-run defeat against the co-hosts in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

Reacting to the defeat on his YouTube channel, former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stated the team is heading towards a “downfall”.

“Babar Azam and company should sit down and think about the kind of cricket they are playing. But, looking at our cricket and selection, I think our cricket is headed towards downfall,” the former right-hander said.

Legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, on the other hand, raised questions over the team’s strategies in crucial situations.

“They made a huge mistake by opting for Iftikhar instead of Fakhar to play the first ball of the super over. The left-arm fast bowler would have suited Fakhar because of the angle of the bowling. I don’t know who told Iftikhar to face the left-armer,” Afridi said on his YouTube channel.

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Afridi also questioned Mohammad Amir’s performance in the Super Over.

“Mohammad Amir bowled really well during the match and I thought that they will go with in the super over as well. But he conceded a lot of extras in the super over which also didn’t help Pakistan’s cause,” stated Afridi.

“He is experienced and knows how to bowl yorkers. The ball was reversing as well which is why I think he shouldn’t have given away so many runs,” he added.

On the other hand, legendary pacer Waqar Younis termed the USA’s victory over Pakistan historic and asserted that the national team looked “helpless”.

“USA grounded Pakistan in their opening game. History’s been registered. Pakistan looked exhausted and helpless in the field. Congrats USA for a thumping victory,” Waqar tweeted.

READ: Babar Azam highlights shortcomings after Pakistan’s shock loss against USA

DALLAS: The United States of America (USA) edged past Pakistan in the Super Over to claim a historic upset victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium here on Thursday.

The USA scored 18 runs in the Super Over as Mohammad Amir bowled three wide balls, which cost seven extra runs. Aaron Jones (11) got out on the last ball.

From Pakistan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman came out to bat, but the former got out courtesy of a brilliant catch after hitting one boundary.

Shadab Khan replaced Ahmed on the crease and played the remaining balls as Pakistan managed only 13 runs in the Super Over. Fakhar Zaman could not play a single delivery.

The match was tied when Nitish Kumar hit Haris Rauf for a boundary on the last ball of the innings to level the scores.

The USA had a solid start to the chase, thanks to a 36-run partnership between Steven Taylor and skipper Monank Patel.

Naseem Shah removed Taylor, who scored 12 off 16, to force Pakistan’s comeback, but Andries Gous and Patel knitted a solid partnership to keep the hosts in the hunt.

Together they added 68 runs from 48 balls to push the team’s total to 104 before Haris Rauf castled Gous to break their momentum.

Gous scored 35 runs from 26 balls with the help of five boundaries and one six.

Patel also fell in the next over after scoring 50 off 38, featuring seven boundaries and one six.

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Jones then played a brilliant 36-run cameo off 26 balls with the help of two boundaries and two sixes to help his team level the scores.

For Pakistan, Shah, Rauf and Amir claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, the Green Shirts were invited to bat first and were reduced to 26-3 in 4.4 overs, courtesy of USA’s brilliant bowling and fielding efforts.

Shadab Khan joined a struggling Babar Azam, who was playing at 2 from 10 balls and launched a counterattack after settling down.

Khan switched gears and hit Jasdeep Singh for two consecutive sixes in the tenth over, while Azam ended the over with his first boundary.

However, the USA made a comeback with two consecutive wickets to reduce Pakistan to 98-5 in 12.5 overs.

Shadab Khan scored 40 runs from 25 balls with the help of three sixes and one boundary.

Babar Azam added 27 runs for the sixth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed before falling to Jasdeep Singh after scoring a gutsy 44 off 43.

Iftikhar Ahmed scored 18 off 14, while Shaheen Afridi played an unbeaten cameo of 23 runs from 16 balls to push Pakistan’s total to 159-7 in their allocated 20 overs.

For the USA, Nosthush Kenjige claimed three wickets, while Saurabh Netravalkar bagged two.

DALLAS: The United States of America (USA) edged past Pakistan in the Super Over to claim a historic upset victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium here on Thursday.

USA 159/3 (20 Overs)

Haris Rauf to bowl the last over

USA 145/3 (19 Overs)

Mohammad Amir to bowl the penultimate over

USA 139/3 (18 Overs)

Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl

USA 132/3 (17 Overs)

Naseem Shah to bowl his last

USA 126/3 (16 Overs)

Shadab Khan to bowl his third

USA 115/3 (15 Overs)

Amir comes on to bowl

USA 104/2 (14 Overs)

Haris Rauf returns

USA 104/1 (13 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi returns to the attack

USA 94/1 (12 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed into the attack

USA 84/1 (11 Overs)

Naseem Shah returns

USA 76/1 (10 Overs)

Shadab Khan continues

USA 65/1 (9 Overs)

Haris Rauf continues

USA 56/1 (8 Overs)

Shadab Khan replaces Naseem

USA 51/1 (7 Overs)

Haris Rauf replaces Amir

USA 44/1 (6 Overs)

Naseem Shah continues

USA 35/0 (5 Overs)

Amir to bowl from the other end

USA 28/0 (4 Overs)

Naseem Shah replaces Amir

USA 24/0 (3 Overs)

Shaheen Afridi to continue

USA 14/0 (2 Overs)

Mohammad Amir to bowl the second over

USA 6/0 (1 Over)

Steven Taylor and Monank Patel come out to bat for the USA. Shaheen Afridi to bowl the first over for Pakistan.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (2nd INNINGS)

DALLAS: Babar Azam and Shadab Khan helped Pakistan post 159-7 against the United States of America (USA) during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium here on Thursday.

PAK 159/7 (20 Overs)

Ali Khan to bowl the last over

PAK 149/7 (19 Overs)

18.1: It was a slower ball which was dipping rather sharply. It hit Iftikhar’s front pad seemingly on leg, as he looked to swipe this on the side. Replays show it would have landed right on the base on the middle and leg stump.

Netravalkar to bowl his last

PAK 139/6 (18 Overs)

Ali Khan to bowl his third

PAK 132/6 (17 Overs)

Corey Anderson to bowl his first

PAK 126/6 (16 Overs)

15.5: Jasmeet bowled a length ball angling in and pitching just outside off. It angled in and hit Babar’s front knee seemingly on the middle, as he looked to clip but missed. Replays confirm there is no bat involved, and that the ball would have hit the leg stump.

Jasdeep Singh replaces Ali Khan

PAK 113/5 (15 Overs)

Harmeet Singh to bowl

PAK 107/5 (14 Overs)

Ali Khan back into the attack

PAK 98/5 (13 Overs)

12.5: Kenjige bowled on a length in the middle, and the ball seemed to have skidded through to the middle and leg. Azam missed as he was beaten on the inside edge. Replays show no bat involved, and it is the umpire’s call on hitting the top of the leg stump.

12.4: Kenjige angled this length ball into Shadab, who had backed away early. The ball finished a few stumps outside leg, and Shadab ended up swinging it straight to the fielder.

Nosthush Kenjige to bowl his last

PAK 93/3 (12 Overs)

Harmeet Singh to bowl from the other end

PAK 74/3 (11 Overs)

Nosthush Kenjige returns to the attack

PAK 66/3 (10 Overs)

Jasdeep Singh continues

PAK 46/3 (9 Overs)

Harmeet Singh continues

PAK 40/3 (8 Overs)

Jasdeep Singh replaces Netravalkar

PAK 35/3 (7 Overs)

Harmeet Singh to bowl

PAK 30/3 (6 Overs)

Saurabh Netravalkar continues

PAK 27/3 (5 Overs)

4.4: Fakhar attempted a paddle and ended up hitting it straight to the short fine leg. He was in no control of the stroke and was completely off balance.

Ali Khan comes to bowl

PAK 22/2 (4 Overs)

Saurabh Netravalkar continues

PAK 21/2 (3 Overs)

2.3: Usman saw the ball tossed up and decided to go high, but the ball spun away to have him slicing high to long-off. Nitish Kumar was cool and calm underneath the high ball.

Nosthush Kenjige continues

PAK 13/1 (2 Overs)

1.2: Rizwan was squared up by the line and length, the hint of away movement helps get the edge as Rizwan jabs at the delivery and the ball flies low to Taylor who puts his right hand out to pluck it sensationally.

Saurabh Netravalkar to bowl the second over

PAK 9/0 (1 Over)

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan come out to bat for Pakistan. Nosthush Kenjige to bowl the first over for USA.

PAKISTAN vs USA (1st INNINGS)

DALLAS: United States of America (USA) have won the toss and chose to field first against Pakistan in the 11th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium here on Thursday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf

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DALLAS: United States of America (USA) have won the toss and chose to field first against Pakistan in the 11th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Grand Prairie Stadium here on Thursday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf

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Former Pakistani captain and renowned commentator Ramiz Raja has warned that the United States of America (USA) could pose a challenge to the national team during the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Raja expressed thoughts in a video on his official YouTube channel after Pakistan suffered a shocking loss against Ireland in the first T20I of the three-match series.

The former captain questioned Pakistan’s performance in the match against Ireland and their preparation for the T20 World Cup, scheduled in the USA and West Indies.

“You can’t defend losing against Ireland. The body language looks weak, you have made combinations that have affected the team,” Ramiz Raja said.

“The team was doing well, but the captaincy was changed and then the new captain was replaced with the previous one. In a World Cup year, the team has fallen to seventh position in the T20I rankings and this shows the actual condition of the team,” he added.

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He further raised concerns over Pakistan’s chances to win the World Cup, citing the team’s recent performances.

“How will Pakistan win the World Cup, you don’t have a combination, the opening pair is not set, the set batters lose their wickets and the middle order doesn’t function well. In the current situation, how will Pakistan go to the semi-finals?” Raja questioned.

The former PCB chairman also warned that co-hosts USA, who are set to play their first-ever T20 World Cup, might prove to be a difficult opposition for Pakistan due to the presence of expats from India and Pakistan in their squad.

“I think the USA might give tough time to Pakistan because they also have some expats from India and Pakistan playing for them,” he added.

Notably, Pakistan will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on 6 June in Dallas.

READ: Pakistan women’s team to depart for Northampton today