Pakistan come in relieved rather than reassured after scraping past the Netherlands. Faheem Ashraf’s composure in the penultimate over rescued a chase that had unravelled alarmingly after a comfortable start. The collapse once again highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing vulnerability under pressure, an issue that has seen them exit the last three ICC tournaments early.
Their bowling and fielding, however, offered positives. The balance between spin and seam worked well, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed found support from the surface, and the overall athleticism in the field stood out. Yet questions remain around the batting. Babar Azam continues to struggle for form, Salman Ali Agha has moved himself up the order, and the middle order still appears thin before the all-rounders take over.
The USA arrive encouraged despite defeat to India. They showed they can disrupt top teams by removing India’s top order early, only for Suryakumar Yadav to deny them a historic upset. Their confidence is rooted in recent history, having beaten Pakistan via a Super Over two years ago, and in their depth of bowling options, particularly Saurabh Netravalkar, despite his difficult outing against India.
Travel and injuries present challenges for the Americans. Ali Khan is a serious doubt, Shubham Ranjane is managing fitness concerns, and Jasdeep Singh has already been ruled out. Even so, the discipline of their attack and their willingness to take risks keep them dangerous.
For Pakistan, with no margin for error in the group stage, this match carries knockout intensity. For the USA, it represents another chance to prove they belong on the global stage.
Leave a Reply