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‘All the pressure’ on Pakistan as USA out to inflict another T20 shock | The Express Tribune
Pakistan may bring back batsman Fakhar Zaman to replace Babar Azam who has been criticised for slow scoring
Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have made impressive gains in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. PHOTO: AFP
USA leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin said Monday that “the pressure will be on Pakistan” when the teams lock horns in the T20 World Cup again, two years after the Americans inflicted a shock defeat on the former champions.
But Pakistan quick bowler Salman Mirza insisted the stunning super over defeat in Dallas in the 2024 T20 World Cup would be firmly “in the past” when the two clash in Colombo on Tuesday.
The USA team gave tournament favourites India a big scare in their opening match in Mumbai, reducing them to 77-6 at one point, with Mohsin taking a wicket on his T20 World Cup debut, before losing by 29 runs.
They are confident they can repeat their stunning upset of two years ago in the Group A encounter.
“The pressure of losing the last game will be on Pakistan,” said Mohsin.
Born and brought up playing cricket in Pakistan, Mohsin migrated to the US five years ago and warned the USA were a better team now than two years ago.
“I have played with most of the players in this Pakistan team, so I have given my input to the team and we are a more skilled and confident team.”
Mirza was confident the last defeat will not prey on the Pakistan players’ minds.
“Winning and losing are part of the game, it happens in cricket,” Mirza said. “The defeat against the USA is now past and behind us.”
Pakistan, the 2009 champions, were close to suffering another shock in their opening match against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Read More: Faheem Ashraf’s late surge seals tense T20 win for Pakistan
Pakistan were staring at defeat with 29 runs needed in the last two overs but all-rounder Faheem Ashraf’s big hitting bailed them out.
Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to qualify for the super eight stage as one of the top two teams in Group A after saying they would not play India on February 15.
Defeat to the USA two years ago saw them fail to get out of the group.
Mirza admitted the smaller teams were dangerous opponents. “Until now all the matches are close and no team is small or big in this format,” said Mirza, who took 3-24 against the Netherlands.
Pakistan may bring back experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman to replace Babar Azam who has been criticised for slow scoring.
- BCCI VP terms talks’ outcome “win-win situation for everybody”.
- Rajeev Shukla thanks ICC for efforts bringing together all parties.
- Senior Indian official expresses optimism for successful World Cup.
Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla has hailed the outcome of the talks between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over the T20 World Cup 2026.
“I am delighted to see the outcome of the deliberations [in Lahore],” Shukla said while speaking to the Indian media on Tuesday.
His remarks refer to Islamabad’s announcement of allowing the Green Shirts to play their scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
Pakistan had earlier decided not to play against arch-rival India in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were kicked out of the tournament after it refused to travel to India, citing security concerns.
After Pakistan’s announcement, the ICC’s deputy chairman travelled to Lahore on Sunday to discuss the situation with the PCB chief in a meeting attended by the BCB president.
However, in a statement on Monday, the government said that the decision to field the national side against India in the tournament was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after being briefed by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations held between the PCB, the ICC and the BCB.
The decision, Islamabad has stressed, was taken to protect the spirit of cricket and support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations.
Expanding on the development, BCCI VP Shukla termed it a “win-win situation for everybody” and thanked the ICC for its collaborative efforts to bring all the parties together.
“The ICC took steps to resolve the issue, and cricket has returned to the forefront. As far as the ICC is concerned, this is a major success.”
“The scheduling of the match on 15 February is good news,” he remarked.
The BCCI official underscored the positive outcomes for all stakeholders involved, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, and expressed optimism for a successful World Cup.
“Pakistan will play, and this World Cup will become an example of success. It is also good for Bangladesh, as their board was also given relief during the negotiations. The BCB is happy [….] The match will take place, and the World Cup will be a successful event,” Shukla added.
Japan’s rise has been systemic with a deep talent pool, while the United States struggled to find a clear successor to Shaun White.
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Pakistan will face South Africa in a three-match women’s T20I series, commencing today (Tuesday). This is Pakistan Women’s first tour of South Africa for a bilateral series since 2021, according to a PCB statement.
The T20Is will be staged on February 10, 13 and 16, with matches scheduled to start at 9pm Pakistan time.
Pakistan’s 15-member squad is captained by Fatima Sana, while Laura Wolvaardt will lead the home side.
In the build-up to the series, Pakistan held a week-long pre-series camp in Karachi, which included practice sessions and scenario-based matches.
The squad features two uncapped players for Pakistan, with pacer Humna Bilal and batter Saira Jabeen braced for their T20I debuts.
The series provides both sides with an opportunity to finalise preparations for the 12-team ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place from June 12 to July 5 in England and Wales.
In head-to-head, in 24 T20I matches, South Africa have an upper hand against Pakistan, but Pakistan had swept the series by three-nil against South Africa when the two sides met in Karachi in 2023.
For Pakistan, in the current squad, in the batting department, Aliya Riaz has featured in 15 T20Is against South Africa, scoring 321 runs at a strike rate of 122.98.
In the bowling unit, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has played six matches, claiming 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.66.
15-member squad:
Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wicket-keeper), Humna Bilal, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.
Tour itinerary
1st T20I – Feb 10 — JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (day/night)
2nd T20I – Feb 13 – Willowmoore Park, Benoni (day/night)
3rd T20I – Feb 16 – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley (day/night)
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