The USA heads into the match high on confidence, having shown determination against Canada and recently upsetting Bangladesh. Pakistan, meanwhile, could hardly say the same.
Match Details
Australia vs Oman
Dallas, 10:30 AM local time
Big Picture
“Pakistan the heavyweight, the USA the underdog” isn’t a phrase often heard, but these are the roles these teams play in Dallas. Cricketing matters aside, this game has its share of off-field intrigue, but add to that an American surge in form against a struggling Pakistan side, and the match promises plenty of excitement.
USA’s win over Canada highlights the threat they pose. Turning a near-defeat into a comfortable victory shows a side brimming with confidence after their stunning 2-1 series win over Bangladesh. Familiarity with the venue, having played against Canada there, adds another advantage for the USA.
Pakistan, however, has faced difficulties. Rain in Dallas disrupted their training, forcing them to practice indoors. Instead of acclimatizing early, Pakistan played T20I series in Ireland and the UK, where inconsistent performances saw them lose to Ireland and be comfortably beaten by England.
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Pakistan’s problems are compounded by Imad Wasim’s injury. Their opening combination of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam remains their only viable option, as experiments over the past five months have not succeeded. Several players are out of form, with Saim Ayub, Azam Khan, and Shadab Khan particularly struggling.
While Pakistan oscillates between triumph and disaster, American self-confidence and belief are strong. This sets the stage for a potential upset or at least a thrilling match.
Form Guide
United States of America: WLWWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Pakistan: LLWWL
In the Spotlight
Aaron Jones poses a significant threat, particularly against Pakistan. His dismantling of Canada’s bowlers pressures Haris Rauf, Pakistan’s in-form bowler. With Imad out and Shadab struggling, Jones might lead a middle-overs assault similar to the one against Canada.
Azam Khan, after a poor game against England, faces scrutiny. Despite being picked for his CPL experience, his confidence is low. Pakistan must decide whether to drop him, which would weaken their lower-order hitting, or keep him, which risks his poor form affecting the team.
Team News
USA, injury-free after their win over Canada, is likely to stick with their winning lineup.
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
Imad’s injury means balancing the team is a challenge for Pakistan. Babar and Rizwan are set to open.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed
Pitch and Conditions
Rain affected Dallas in the lead-up to the tournament but has stayed away since. A full game is expected on Thursday. The wicket offers early seam movement with decent bounce and carry, as seen in the first two games.
Stats and Trivia
- Pakistan’s attempt to split Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan failed. Saim Ayub’s average and strike rate are lower than both Babar and Rizwan’s as openers since January 2022.
- Haris Rauf is five wickets away from becoming the second Pakistani to reach 100 T20I wickets, after Shadab Khan.
- Aaron Jones hit 10 sixes in his innings against Canada in the World Cup opener.
Quotes
“Certain things are outside your control. We can’t control the weather. In the circumstances, we used the facilities available to us, with the batters and bowlers training indoors. Our team drills also took place indoors, so we’re just trying to utilise the best possible options we have.” —Pakistan captain Babar Azam on adapting to the Dallas weather.
“You know, it’s T20. Once we have good 30-40 minutes on the field, you never know. We can take the game away.” —USA captain Monank Patel on his team’s chances against Pakistan.
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