After nearly stumbling against the Netherlands in their opening match, Pakistan will be hoping for a far more authoritative performance when they take on the United States of America in their second Group fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo on Tuesday, February 10.
There will be no room for complacency, for Pakistan knows better than most that the USA can punch above its weight. The dramatic Super Over upset from the last edition would be at the back of their minds – the one that paved the USA’s way to Super 8 qualification and subsequently a direct entry to this edition. Moreover, adding to the cautionary signs, the Americans also gave India a genuine scare in their tournament opener in Mumbai, showcasing their growing confidence on the world stage. With a batting order prone to collapses, this contest can be trickier than it appears on paper.
There were no complaints in Pakistan’s bowling show on the Sinhalese Sports Club’s fresh wicket that sported a fair bit of grass. The spinners and pacers combined to keep the Netherlands to just 147, with all but Shadab Khan from the bowling attack taking at least a wicket. However, their batting leaves a lot to be desired. If it wasn’t for a lucky reprieve under pressure for Faheem Ashraf and his penultimate-over heroics, Pakistan could have well been off to a forgettable start that they can ill-afford unless they soften their stance on the India clash later this week.
USA began their World Cup campaign on a dream note. They had defending champions and co-hosts India on the mat at 46/4 and then 118/7 before skipper Suryakuamar Yadav’s counterattack pulled his team out of the hole. A similar top-order collapse then left the middle and lower order with a mountain to climb against the scoreboard pressure and India’s disciplined bowling attack.
The added injury concerns on top of their opening-match heartbreak make the road tough for the USA. Even though Shubham Ranjane returned to bat after hobbling off the field in the first innings, it’s the injury to Ali Khan that will give the team a few headaches in this short turnaround. They have called up former Pakistan cricketer Ehsan Adil – uncapped for the USA in any format yet – as an injury replacement for a different player, and he could be walking into the XI straight off the plane.
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