Match particulars
USA vs Pakistan
Dallas, 10.30am native time
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“Pakistan the heavyweight, the USA the plucky underdog” is not a phrase that rolls off the tongue neatly sufficient, however these are the sobriquets thrust upon these two sides after they take one another on in Dallas. Cricketing issues apart, this recreation has sufficient of a tinge of off-field spice, however add to that an American uptick in kind mixed with a susceptible Pakistan unit and the cricketing issues present intrigue of their very own.
If the tendency to hop about from triumph to catastrophe with out warning is a characteristically Pakistani trait, perception and self-confidence is unabashedly American. You could not set a greater scene or plot extra amenable circumstances for an upset, or on the very least a Texan thriller.
Kind information
United States of America: WLWWW (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
Pakistan: LLWWL
Within the highlight
Aaron Jones can be an issue for any bowling facet, however he matches up significantly nicely in opposition to Pakistan. Jones’ takedown of Canada’s tempo and spin bowlers within the center overs locations loads of strain on Haris Rauf, Pakistan’s most in-form bowler in that section. With Imad out and Shadab severely out of nick, there stays the potential for Jones to steer a middle-overs onslaught just like the one which noticed the US storm previous Canada within the event opener.
As the ultimate T20I in opposition to England final week made brutally plain, there isn’t any hiding place for Azam Khan. After a shocker of a recreation with each bat and gloves, he was singled out for the ire of Pakistan’s media and followers. A few of it was justified, the remaining means excessive. However it’s apparent Pakistan are struggling to reply the query of what to do with him. Having, partly, chosen him due to his latest CPL pedigree, dropping him leaves them gentle on choices for lower-order death-overs hitting. Deciding on a participant that low on confidence, although, brings its personal conundrums, not least whether or not to provide him the gloves when Mohammad Rizwan – a stratospherically higher keeper – is a confirmed starter.
Group information
USA haven’t any harm issues following their win over Canada, and with the hosts enjoying on the identical venue once more, they’re unlikely to tinker with a successful mixture.
USA: 1 Steven Taylor, 2 Monank Patel (capt), 3 Andries Gous (wk), 4 Aaron Jones, 5 Nitish Kumar, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Harmeet Singh, 8 Shadley van Schalkwyk, 9 Jasdeep Singh, 10 Ali Khan, 11 Saurabh Netravalkar
Imad has been unable to shake off a facet pressure that stored him out of Pakistan’s last T20I in opposition to England final week, that means balancing the facet is an issue for Pakistan. It possible means Shadab will preserve his place for all-round potential, whereas Babar and Rizwan return up high.
Pakistan: 1 Mohammad Rizwan 2 Babar Azam 3 Usman Khan 4 Fakhar Zaman 5 Azam Khan 6 Iftikhar Ahmed 7 Shadab Khan 7 8 Shaheen Afridi 9 Haris Rauf 10 Mohammad Amir 11 Abrar Ahmed
Pitch and circumstances
Rain sprayed Dallas within the week main as much as the event, however has for the massive half stayed away because the World Cup started. That ought to proceed to be the case on Thursday, with a full recreation anticipated.
The wicket provided early seam motion in every of the primary two video games with first rate bounce and carry, with the opening recreation – held at this venue – throwing up the 2 highest scores of the event thus far.
Stats and trivia
- Pakistan’s try to interrupt up Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan failed on nearly each rely. Saim Ayub scored 229 runs in 15 T20I innings as opener, at a median of 15.26 and a strike charge of 126.51. That common in addition to strike charge is decrease than both Babar or Rizwan’s as opener since January 2022
- Haris Rauf is 5 wickets away from changing into simply the second Pakistani – after Shadab Khan – to achieve 100 T20I wickets
- Of the 23 sixes Aaron Jones has struck in 25 T20I innings, 10 got here in his innings in opposition to Canada within the World Cup opener
Quotes
“Sure issues are exterior your management. We won’t management the climate. Within the circumstances, we used the services obtainable to us, with the batters and bowlers coaching indoors. Our group drills additionally came about indoors, so we’re simply making an attempt to utilise the very best choices we’ve got.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam on making do whereas the Dallas climate refused to play ball
“You understand, it is T20. As soon as we’ve got good 30-40 minutes on the sphere, you by no means know. We will take the sport away.”
USA captain Monank Patel when requested if his group fancies its probabilities in opposition to Pakistan
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000
