Pakistan is preparing for a crucial must-win match against Canada on June 11 at Nassau County International Stadium in New York. After a disappointing loss to India, Pakistan is in a tough spot, sitting near the bottom of Group A with two losses from two games.
The recent defeat to India highlighted major issues in Pakistan’s batting lineup, despite a strong showing from their bowlers who held India to just 119 runs. The middle order’s collapse, particularly from Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan, has raised concerns.
With promising players like Saim Ayub ready for an opportunity, Pakistan might make strategic adjustments to bolster their batting order. Saim Ayub is expected to replace Shadab Khan in the playing XI, given Shadab’s struggles with both bat and ball.
The pitches in New York have favored bowlers, with no team scoring more than 150 runs, the highest being 137. With clear skies forecast, the pitch is expected to stay bowler-friendly.
Pakistan is likely to continue with four pacers on the challenging New York pitch. Although Imad Wasim returned from injury against India, he struggled with his running while batting. If Imad is unavailable, Pakistan might choose Abrar Ahmed as their sole specialist spinner.
The match, scheduled for 7:30 pm (PST), promises an exciting contest between bat and ball as both teams vie for a crucial win in their T20 World Cup campaign.
Likely XI:
Saim Ayub
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Babar Azam (c)
Usman Khan
Fakhar Zaman
Iftikhar Ahmed
Imad Wasim/Abrar Ahmed
Shaheen Afridi
Mohammad Amir
Haris Rauf
Naseem Shah
With high stakes and mounting pressure, Pakistan will need to bring their best game to secure a victory and keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive.