ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan vs USA (grudge match) | Match 12 | Group A | Colombo | February 10 | Pre-Match Discussion

[Nasty Naz]

I truly hope we see Pakistan seriously get up for this match and stomp US to avenge their humiliating loss from 24'. It was one of the darkest time to be a Pakistani fan and I think the players need to get up to not only win, but steamroll them.

They turned the first match from what should have been a simple win to a miraculous escape and now that first game jitters are out of the way, it's time to lock in.

 

[hamzie]

no more babar pls
his last innings was probably the worst hes ever played and hes just declining over time

 

[BouncerGuy]

No more Usman also please... Bring Nafay in...

 

[globetrotter]

After India defeated USA in yesterday's match, Trump is very annoyed..... He gonna watch USA-Pakistan match with tariff card in his hand

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I’m looking forward to this game because of the cheap thrills.

No tension, no commitment, only maza hi maza. Or, since I’m Indian, maja hi maja

 

[Nasty Naz]

After India defeated USA in yesterday's match, Trump is very annoyed..... He gonna watch USA-Pakistan match with tariff card in his hand

Nobody in US even knows their cricket team is playing or is in WC or would care what the results are. All the focus is on the Super Bowl tomorrow and following the olympics.

Same applies for Canada.

 

[Rana]

With all due respect, the attitude and output of some of the senior, most hyped players has become abysmally poor. A complete lack of disrespect towards Pakistan cricket and its fans with their serial bottling and not playing in accordance with the plan of the team.

After yesterday’s near death experience around the 10th-18th over, I’m sure there has to be some drastic shaking up! Enough is enough, the same mistakes being repeated again and again at the top level!

It is said that SAF was a complete, no nonsense man who didn’t care who you are and how big a superstar you were. Man would throw hairdryers at players faces to wake them up! How Hesson and Nofke are not pinning some of these blokes up the wall is beyond me!

Get your bloody act together!!

 

[Usman Chadda]

With all due respect, the attitude and output of some of the senior, most hyped players has become abysmally poor. A complete lack of disrespect towards Pakistan cricket and its fans with their serial bottling and not playing in accordance with the plan of the team.

After yesterday’s near death experience around the 10th-18th over, I’m sure there has to be some drastic shaking up! Enough is enough, the same mistakes being repeated again and again at the top level!

It is said that SAF was a complete, no nonsense man who didn’t care who you are and how big a superstar you were. Man would throw hairdryers at players faces to wake them up! How Hesson and Nofke are not pinning some of these blokes up the wall is beyond me!

Get your bloody act together!!

I’m struggling to understand how Fakhar and Nafay warm the bench in a T20 tournament, and Babar/Usman are playing.

Only in Pakistan I guess? No wonder other fans make fun of us.

 

[RahulBose]

De

Nobody in US even knows their cricket team is playing or is in WC or would care what the results are. All the focus is on the Super Bowl tomorrow and following the olympics.

Same applies for Canada.

Usa and canada has a large desi dispora.

Willow subscriptions are also up.

So yeah, there are people who watch and breath cricket.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I’m struggling to understand how Fakhar and Nafay warm the bench in a T20 tournament, and Babar/Usman are playing.

Only in Pakistan I guess? No wonder other fans make fun of us.

I think it's deeper than a playing XI issue, which is definitely an issue.

These guys lack the temperament needed at this level. Which is why we keep seeing them get in similar positions again and again.

 

[Cric1234]

Fakhar needs to come in the middle order another left hander is required in the middle order.

 

[Cric1234]

Usman tariq can be played in a big match to suprise the other team... Anything that can help win a few important matches should be tried.

 

[shehz]

Yeah, should have beaten India...but skipping to see Indians whining is next level fun

Fun fact: Shubham Ranjane dropped two easy catches. Can someone check his account.

 

[Usman Chadda]

I think it's deeper than a playing XI issue, which is definitely an issue.

These guys lack the temperament needed at this level. Which is why we keep seeing them get in similar positions again and again.

Regardless, why would you short-change yourself and play inferior players?

 

[Fast bowler6929]

First of all drop zimbo the ding dong along with that hack Usman woodcutter.
Both of them are losers of highest level.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

If USA beats us again, it'll be the start of the greatest sporting rivalry of the century.

 

[BouncerGuy]

If USA beats us again, it'll be the start of the greatest sporting rivalry of the century.

Yeah... Pakistan already has a grudge against them from the last time they met.. This is not gonna be an easy game for them

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

If USA beats us again, it'll be the start of the greatest sporting rivalry of the century.

For it to be a rivalry Pakistan would have to actually beat them first.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Regardless, why would you short-change yourself and play inferior players?

Because they think they are better than they actually are

 

[zahid01]

No more Usman also please... Bring Nafay in...

Play nafay over usman and play fakhar over babar atleast fakhar has some fear for the oppositions babar is delight for the oppositions they know he will kill the game and put pressure on pakistan team he is not a man for crisis he creates crisis for pakistan.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

For it to be a rivalry Pakistan would have to actually beat them first.

Another one-sided rivalry incoming.

Trump adding fuel to fire using truth social would be the proper attention that cricket needs in USA.

 

[AZulfi]

Drop Babar and play Fakhar

Babar bats too slowly most of the time, putting pressure on other batsmen. He cannot be in the side for his catching alone.

The rest of the XI is about right

 

[deltexas]

For it to be a rivalry Pakistan would have to actually beat them first.

Jeez dude - that was brutal! But was funny!
I guess it's not easy for a Pak supporter, and jokes aside, must be very painful for one to be saying there is rivalry with USA in cricket..

 

[hamzie]

Drop Babar and play Fakhar

Babar bats too slowly most of the time, putting pressure on other batsmen. He cannot be in the side for his catching alone.

The rest of the XI is about right

hes always played slow
before it was still whatever.. SR 120/130 ok fine.
But now the SR is 100 or lower

hes not even good enough for BBL, they were going to drop him for the finals
how is he then good enough for an international team

how does no one see that from PCB

 

[stani_pak]

Fun fact: Shubham Ranjane dropped two easy catches. Can someone check his account.

The only guys that turned up where Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, and Mohammad Mohsin. The so call great bowler Netravalkar was horrible with his bowling performence.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Another one-sided rivalry incoming.

Trump adding fuel to fire using truth social would be the proper attention that cricket needs in USA.

The fact that Americans think that this is a very British thing played over 5 days where people take breaks to drink tea just makes it funnier

 

[AZulfi]

hes always played slow
before it was still whatever.. SR 120/130 ok fine.
But now the SR is 100 or lower

hes not even good enough for BBL, they were going to drop him for the finals
how is he then good enough for an international team

how does no one see that from PCB

True scored something like just 203 runs in 11 games of BBL at a pathetic SR of 103 (that is acceptable in ODIs but not T20Is).

Even Steve Smith was not impressed by his batting. In one game, he refused Babar a single off the last ball because Smith wanted to face the next over.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Jeez dude - that was brutal! But was funny!
I guess it's not easy for a Pak supporter, and jokes aside, must be very painful for one to be saying there is rivalry with USA in cricket..

It would be painful if I wasn't dead inside as a fan. But the fan in me who cared deeply about Pakistan winning or losing died a long time ago. At this point Pakistan could lose to a team of school kids and it wouldn't surprise me

 

[Asif321]

We need revenge of 2024 . Hopefully Pakistan don’t mess up

 

[PakFan2010]

Babar will play.

Hesson doesn't have the guts to drop him.

 

[ghalib kichlu]

It would be painful if I wasn't dead inside as a fan. But the fan in me who cared deeply about Pakistan winning or losing died a long time ago. At this point Pakistan could lose to a team of school kids and it wouldn't surprise me

I concur
Ultimately Babar,fakhar and then hopefully the shahs need to show the USA what a minnow it really is with its collection of visa seekers,rejects and a dead pool of has beens
The fickle fans will hopefully pour out in drones for a Babar bonus

 

[AZulfi]

It would be painful if I wasn't dead inside as a fan. But the fan in me who cared deeply about Pakistan winning or losing died a long time ago. At this point Pakistan could lose to a team of school kids and it wouldn't surprise me

The main issue is the batting, which tends to fold under pressure; lacks consistency. Everything hinges on that. If Pak are to progress, batsmen have to deliver.

However, the shorter the format, the narrower the gap between the teams

USA gave India a real scare (77/6) yesterday. But for SKY's knock, it could have been a different story.

Nepal almost beat England today

 

[CricVet]

It is interesting to see that ALL top teams have struggled against associates in the opening games of the WC. These are early jitters, and as the time passes, this will be less likely to happen.

Pak on paper has a strong team despite having a handicapped player dragging things down. If and when that player is eliminated, this Pak team in SL conditions will be as good as any top team, if not better. Also, this grass they added for one particular game will start disappearing as well for Pak spinners to to cause serious damage on oppositions.

As a Pak fan, I am hoping for the team to play aggressively throughout the game without worrying about the results. They will need to sail the ship without anchoring.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Couldn't help it lol

 

[globetrotter]

USA vs. Pakistan is now becomes knock out match

 

[globetrotter]

The main issue is the batting, which tends to fold under pressure; lacks consistency. Everything hinges on that. If Pak are to progress, batsmen have to deliver.

However, the shorter the format, the narrower the gap between the teams

USA gave India a real scare (77/6) yesterday. But for SKY's knock, it could have been a different story.

Nepal almost beat England today

they have nothing to loose that's why these teams are playing fearless cricket

 

[TeymurBlake]

You’ve got to make some changes.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Agha Ali Salman (C)
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Naseem Shah
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Usman Tariq

I would drop Babar for the tournament, drop Shaheen & Shadab to see how Naseem & Usman Tariq do.

For now keep Usman Khan as keeper due to Khawaja being more inexperienced than Usman.

 

[Usman Chadda]

You’ve got to make some changes.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Agha Ali Salman (C)
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Naseem Shah
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Usman Tariq

I would drop Babar for the tournament, drop Shaheen & Shadab to see how Naseem & Usman Tariq do.

For now keep Usman Khan as keeper due to Khawaja being more inexperienced than Usman.

Bhai saab you want the batting to end at 4?

Replace Babar and Usman with Fakhar and Nafay, and play that team regardless of the result. Since Hasan Nawaz is not in the team, we have no back-ups for the middle-order unfortunately.

 

[zn426]

Jeez dude - that was brutal! But was funny!
I guess it's not easy for a Pak supporter, and jokes aside, must be very painful for one to be saying there is rivalry with USA in cricket..

We need to be good. When USA is good in cricket we will print enough cash to get non-desis writing big checks for matches against teams like Pakistan and India

 

[Devadwal]

USA vs. Pakistan is now becomes knock out match

Not after Pakistan Surender and U - Turn to play the match against India !!!

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Babar Azam must play, I feel.

Who will save Pakistan from itself when the team foolishly tries to accelerate? Who will take a reckless, volatile game by the scruff of the neck and pacify it?

 

[khyberlion]

You’ve got to make some changes.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Agha Ali Salman (C)
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Naseem Shah
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Usman Tariq

I would drop Babar for the tournament, drop Shaheen & Shadab to see how Naseem & Usman Tariq do.

For now keep Usman Khan as keeper due to Khawaja being more inexperienced than Usman.

This is one of the worst team you can come with with the current squad. This team has 8 bowling options we already have too many. The line up is very thin on batting.

 

[chinaman00]

You’ve got to make some changes.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Agha Ali Salman (C)
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Naseem Shah
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Usman Tariq

I would drop Babar for the tournament, drop Shaheen & Shadab to see how Naseem & Usman Tariq do.

For now keep Usman Khan as keeper due to Khawaja being more inexperienced than Usman.

You think Usman Khan shoud continue to play despite the persistence failure???

My goodness, no wonder this team is this pathetic with fans like this.

 

[BreadPakoda]

A US win will mean a lot for a sport that’s dying. Go USA!

 

[Major]

With all due respect, the attitude and output of some of the senior, most hyped players has become abysmally poor. A complete lack of disrespect towards Pakistan cricket and its fans with their serial bottling and not playing in accordance with the plan of the team.

After yesterday’s near death experience around the 10th-18th over, I’m sure there has to be some drastic shaking up! Enough is enough, the same mistakes being repeated again and again at the top level!

It is said that SAF was a complete, no nonsense man who didn’t care who you are and how big a superstar you were. Man would throw hairdryers at players faces to wake them up! How Hesson and Nofke are not pinning some of these blokes up the wall is beyond me!

Get your bloody act together!!

Knowing how some of the posters here celebrated that "win" against NL. Im sure the pakistan team might go with the same batting line up, cause we have this methodology that a team that wins no matter how should stay as the same team under the banner of winning combination.

 

[Major]

You’ve got to make some changes.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Agha Ali Salman (C)
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Naseem Shah
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Usman Tariq

I would drop Babar for the tournament, drop Shaheen & Shadab to see how Naseem & Usman Tariq do.

For now keep Usman Khan as keeper due to Khawaja being more inexperienced than Usman.

For a t20 over match, we are carrying too many bowlers.

 

[Rajdeep]

USA after playing in true Mumbai track have to adjust on low and slow SL wicket. So this will be a new challenge for them. I remember, how posters use same excuse during CT when other teams had to adjust for India. Now no one will mention it, of course.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

A US win will mean a lot for a sport that’s dying. Go USA!

Nah. Nobody in US really cares about this besides Indian-Americans. And that will continue being the case.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Fakhar in - Babar out
Nafay in - Usman out

 

[hur rizvi]

There is where it all started babar played his career defining knock against USA in 2024

 

[sweep_shot]

You’ve got to make some changes.

1. Saim Ayub
2. Sahibzada Farhan
3. Agha Ali Salman (C)
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan (WK)
6. Mohammad Nawaz
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Naseem Shah
9. Salman Mirza
10. Abrar Ahmed
11. Usman Tariq

I would drop Babar for the tournament, drop Shaheen & Shadab to see how Naseem & Usman Tariq do.

For now keep Usman Khan as keeper due to Khawaja being more inexperienced than Usman.

Probably Naseem Shah needs to be replaced with another batter. Too many bowlers here.

 

[hur rizvi]

I would like to see Usman Tariq in Shaheen or Salman Mirzas place but seems unlikely

 

[hur rizvi]

Faheem and Shaheen/salman are enough pace wise

 

[Sachin fan]

After India defeated USA in yesterday's match, Trump is very annoyed..... He gonna watch USA-Pakistan match with tariff card in his hand

Yes racist Trump cares so much about a team of brown immigrants playing.

 

[adi_62941]

I would like to see Usman Tariq in Shaheen or Salman Mirzas place but seems unlikely

Usman tariq should only play against India otherwise he will be banned.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Make Azam Great Again.

 

[Kianig89]

Hold Usman Tariq for 15th game, we ve enough arsenal to gun down USA

 

[Chuggy]

It's good to see all the associate teams have given fought well Vs the bigger teams. Nepal especially was impressive, it is about continuity and their respective boards putting in the work to give the foundation for such teams to flourish. If USA ever takes this sport seriously they can become a permanent side without relying on 30+ year olds leaving their jobs to come and play, same goes for Netherlands, however this time around I think Pakistan should win it comfortably against USA.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Probably Naseem Shah needs to be replaced with another batter. Too many bowlers here.

Pakistan strength in this tournament with the squad they have picked is bowling. They don't have enough batters who can come in No.4 or after.

 

[TeymurBlake]

You think Usman Khan shoud continue to play despite the persistence failure???

My goodness, no wonder this team is this pathetic with fans like this.

Excuse me????

Usman Khan, Khawaja Nafay & Sahibzada Farhan are the keepers picked by Pakistan.

Out of all them, Usman Khan has the most experience being a keeper. Pakistan doesn't have many keepers who can step into No.5/6/7.

He's a decent player of spin, but that's it. I wouldn't have picked him in my squad. But clearly Pakistan/Mike Hesson think he's worth being in there

 

[Asif321]

Saim should stop those stupid no look shots . Looks embarrassing. It’s okay to play when you are in full control
Of game. Not at critical moments

 

[TeymurBlake]

Bhai saab you want the batting to end at 4?

Replace Babar and Usman with Fakhar and Nafay, and play that team regardless of the result. Since Hasan Nawaz is not in the team, we have no back-ups for the middle-order unfortunately.

The batting won't end after No.4.

In the last 6/12 months Faheem & Nawaz have become integral parts of the T20 team. They both are all rounders & due to this, Pakistan should utilise them for there hitting.

Now obviously Nawaz failed against the Dutch, but that doesn't mean he can't play at No.6 specially with he form he has shown.

Playing Fakhar Zaman, someone who has had a combination of injuries & poor form hasn't really performed at all at No.4 or lower due to him being traditionally a opener or No.3.

Like you said, Hasan Nawaz wouldn't have been a back pick nor picking a top order batter.

This squad isn't very good specially with the passengers picked in the team.

 

[TeymurBlake]

This is one of the worst team you can come with with the current squad. This team has 8 bowling options we already have too many. The line up is very thin on batting.

With the squad picked, Pakistan's best hope is to bowl well & restrict opposition teams to lower totals.

They don't have the quality in the batting department. Fakhar & Babar shouldn't be there, Shadab consistently gets opportunities after opportunities despite very little to show.

Nawaz has been in good form prior to the Netherlands game, however he can bat & using him as a floater isn't a bad idea. He is capable of coming in at No.6.

 

[Chuggy]

With the squad picked, Pakistan's best hope is to bowl well & restrict opposition teams to lower totals.

They don't have the quality in the batting department. Fakhar & Babar shouldn't be there, Shadab consistently gets opportunities after opportunities despite very little to show.

Nawaz has been in good form prior to the Netherlands game, however he can bat & using him as a floater isn't a bad idea. He is capable of coming in at No.6.

If Usman khan is replaced by Nafay then they have the option to try Fakhar in place of Babar, just not sure if coming in at 4 helps either one. We need proper middle order batsmen and we have none in the current squad.

 

[Chuggy]

The batting won't end after No.4.

In the last 6/12 months Faheem & Nawaz have become integral parts of the T20 team. They both are all rounders & due to this, Pakistan should utilise them for there hitting.

Now obviously Nawaz failed against the Dutch, but that doesn't mean he can't play at No.6 specially with he form he has shown.

Playing Fakhar Zaman, someone who has had a combination of injuries & poor form hasn't really performed at all at No.4 or lower due to him being traditionally a opener or No.3.

Like you said, Hasan Nawaz wouldn't have been a back pick nor picking a top order batter.

This squad isn't very good specially with the passengers picked in the team.

I'm very skeptical about Nawaz somehow whatever form he shows during bilaterals goes out of his body during tournaments. He went for runs Vs Netherlands and didn't do anything with the bat, let's see how he performs Vs USA

 

[adi_62941]

Pakistan matches in this WC will be most exciting and entertaining matches because of their inconsistency.
On their day they can score 250 runs in an innings and on bad days then can be bowled out under 70.

 

[adi_62941]

Saim should stop those stupid no look shots . Looks embarrassing. It’s okay to play when you are in full control
Of game. Not at critical moments

He dont have muscle power. He cant hit slow balls.
He will be tested against good bowling attacks because he dont have any power in his muscles. Inface he has very cute little muscles

 

[adi_62941]

Pitches in India/Srilanka suits associate teams as batting is relatively easy here as compare to pitches in Aus/Eng/SAF where you have tough pitches and any associate team can struggle badly there.

 

[khyberlion]

With the squad picked, Pakistan's best hope is to bowl well & restrict opposition teams to lower totals.

They don't have the quality in the batting department. Fakhar & Babar shouldn't be there, Shadab consistently gets opportunities after opportunities despite very little to show.

Nawaz has been in good form prior to the Netherlands game, however he can bat & using him as a floater isn't a bad idea. He is capable of coming in at No.6.

Your team have 8 bowling options our weakness is batting and with that line up it is even more thin. With your line up you will have bowlers bowling 1 or 2 overs.