NEW YORK: Pakistan have decided to bowl first after winning the toss against Canada in the 22nd match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, which is also a do-or-die match for the Men in Green.
The Men in Green drew first blood against the opponents as Mohammad Amir bowled Canadian opener Navneet Dhaliwal (4) out in the third over.
The national side needs to win today’s match and the next one — both of which are high-stake group clashes — to stay in the tournament, as they lost two of the opening matches.
A win against Pakistan today would make things easier for Canada as they would have four points with just one more match to go. Their chances of qualifying for the T20 World Cup playoffs would still be alive.
However, if Pakistan lose, their campaign will be over as they will be officially eliminated with three successive losses.
Pakistan made one change in their playing XI from the last match against India as Saim Ayub has been included in place of Iftikhar Ahmed.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (capt), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir
Canada: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Ravinderpal Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Saad Bin Zafar (capt), Kaleem Sana, Junaid Siddiqui, Jeremy Gordon
Pakistan are surely hitting rock bottom as they suffered defeats in the first two matches of the World Cup against the United States (USA) and India in Dallas and New York respectively and their chances of making way to the Super 8 of the tournament are now lingering on other results of the Group A games.
Pitch Condition
The pitches in New York have been supportive of bowlers as not even for once, a team managed to score 150 at the venue as the highest being posted by any team is 137. With no prediction of rain or clouds covering the sky, the pitch will continue to assist the bowlers.
More to follow…
