The upcoming match between Pakistan and the USA is set to be a significant test for the young American team, promising an exciting spectacle for fans. Despite not being at their peak, Pakistan remains a top-tier team and last edition’s finalists, boasting popular superstars like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. These players are sure to draw a crowd, making it a prime opportunity for USA Cricket to showcase their skills against one of the world’s best teams and for fans to enjoy world-class cricket on home soil.
The game will be held at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas, which recently saw a high-scoring match where the USA chased down a target of 195 in just 17.4 overs, thanks to Aaron Jones’ explosive 40-ball 94*. The pitch is expected to favor batsmen, but fast bowlers may also find some assistance with the new ball.
The weather forecast for Thursday predicts clear skies, allowing for a full match. This will be a relief for Pakistani fans, who have endured three washouts in their last seven T20Is.
The USA comes into this match with confidence, having won their opening game against Canada and a recent 2-1 series against Bangladesh. In contrast, Pakistan approaches this match cautiously, with just one win in their last five T20I series. Their recent struggles in Ireland and the UK, including losses to Ireland and England, have highlighted vulnerabilities and inconsistent form.
Team News
The USA, fresh from their victory over Canada, is injury-free and expected to retain their winning lineup, especially since they’re playing at the same venue again.
Pakistan faces a challenge with Imad Wasim’s unavailability due to a right rib strain. Wasim, in stellar form with both bat and ball, had been crucial for Pakistan. His likely replacement, Abrar Ahmed, brings mystery spin that could trouble the USA batters, though it remains to be seen if he can fill Wasim’s shoes effectively.
Probable XIs:
USA: Steven Taylor, Monank Patel (capt), Andries Gous (wk), Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Jasdeep Singh, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed
Although these teams have never faced each other in an official match, some players are familiar with each other’s skills from various T20 leagues. Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, for example, played alongside Corey Anderson in last year’s Major League Cricket, where Anderson had a standout performance.
An interesting matchup will be the Pakistani batters against Harmeet Singh, the most economical bowler in the USA’s match against Canada, with figures of 1-27. Given Pakistan’s recent struggles against spin, this encounter could be pivotal.
However, if Pakistan performs even at 50% of their potential, they should handle the USA team comfortably. Ideally, they would want to win the toss, bowl first, and put the USA on the back foot with early wickets, then chase the target with their strong batting lineup, a strategy that has worked well for them recently.
