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Pakistan will take on the United States of America (USA) in a key Group A match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 today, with both sides aiming to strengthen their positions in the tournament.
The match will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo and is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PST, with live coverage on PTV Sport and live streaming available on Tamasha, Myco, ARY Zap and Tapmad.
Pakistan seek improvement after narrow opening win
Pakistan enter the contest looking to improve after a shaky opening performance against the Netherlands in the curtain-raiser, where a lower-order recovery helped them avoid an upset and secure victory.
The Green Shirts slipped from 98 for 3 to 114 for 7 while chasing 148 runs before all-rounder Faheem Ashraf scored a match-winning 29 runs off 11 balls, including two fours and three sixes.
The Salman Ali Agha-led side appeared on course for a surprise defeat before late contributions pushed them over the line in their first Group A fixture on Saturday.
USA close to historic upset against India
The United States also showed promise in their opening match, pushing defending champions India close before narrowly missing what could have been one of the biggest shocks in T20 World Cup history.
Despite the loss, the performance, particularly their bowling strength, underlined the growing competitiveness of the USA as they prepare for their second group match against Pakistan.
Memories of a famous 2024 upset
Pakistan and the USA last met in the 2024 T20 World Cup, when the USA stunned Pakistan in a dramatic match decided by a super over after scores were tied at the end of 20 overs.
That victory, achieved in the USA’s first-ever meeting with Pakistan in any format, sent shockwaves through the cricketing world and remains a significant reference point ahead of today’s clash.
Form guide and team news
Pakistan entered the event with confidence after an impressive series sweep against Australia, carrying momentum into the tournament before securing victory in their opening match against the Netherlands.
Their recent form reflects consistency, with four wins in their last five matches, despite one defeat, highlighting competitive balance as they progress through the early stages of the tournament.
The United States enter the tournament aiming to build stability, arriving with a mixed run of results that shows promise but also inconsistency against varying levels of opposition.
Their recent form guide shows two wins in their last five matches, alongside three losses, underlining the challenges they face while competing against stronger teams in the T20 World Cup.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo generally favors batters, producing high-scoring games, with the highest score at the venue being 176 for 3 and the lowest 103 in the last Oman–Zimbabwe game.
Spinners receive limited assistance, while fast bowlers who maintain disciplined lines and lengths can still influence matches on this pitch, with a team scoring between 175 and 190 runs being defensible.
Group A Table and Team Positions
India is currently on top of the Group A points table with two points and a net run rate of +1.450 after defeating the USA, while Pakistan is second with two points and a net run rate of +0.240.
The Netherlands and the USA are in third and fourth place, respectively, while Namibia is currently playing their first game of the marquee event today against the Netherlands.
Probable playing XIs
Pakistan is expected to make one change, with Khawaja Nafay replacing Babar Azam, while the USA is expected to include former Pakistan cricketer Ehsan Adil in their playing XI.
Pakistan:
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed.
USA
Andries Gous, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Monank Patel, Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, and Saurabh Netravalkar
