Revenge is a dish best served under the floodlights of Colombo. Twenty months after the United States of America pulled off one of the greatest upsets in cricket history at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan find themselves face-to-face with its ghosts.
As we head into the 12th match of Group A in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the stakes couldn’t be more different, Pakistan are looking to solidify its redemption arc under new leadership, while the USA are desperate to prove that the miracle of Dallas wasn’t a one-off.
Pakistan enter this clash with a mix of momentum and trepidation. They narrowly escaped a scare against the Netherlands in their opener, thanks to Faheem Ashraf’s late-game heroics after a signature middle-order collapse. With Salman Ali Agha now holding the reins as captain, the “Men in Green” are trying to shed their unpredictable tag and replace it with clinical efficiency.
USA, conversely, arrive in Colombo following a tough loss to defending champions India at the Wankhede. While their bowling, led by the ever-reliable Saurabh Netravalkar showed teeth, their batting struggled to find a rhythm. They know Pakistan’s history of crumbling under pressure, and they’ll be looking to squeeze them early.
PAK vs USA, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- Date and Time: February 9 (Tuesday); 7:00 pm IST / 1:30 pm GMT
- Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
PAK vs USA, Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
Matches played: 1 | Pakistan won: 0 | USA won: 1
Sinhalese Sports Club Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo typically serves as a balanced battleground that evolves throughout the match. Initially, batters can enjoy the even bounce and a lightning-fast outfield, making the Powerplay a high-scoring opportunity where they can play through the line. However, as the game progresses, the surface tends to slow down significantly, allowing dry patches to grip and turn. This shift brings spinners into a dominant role during the middle and death overs. Historical trends from the tournament suggest that while chasing is common, a first-innings total of 170+ becomes formidable as the pitch deteriorates. However, dew is expected to influence the game and could play a role in the teams’ mindset; as a result, sides winning the toss are likely to prefer bowling first.
Also WATCH: Flying Brian Bennett plucks a screamer to send Nadeem Khan packing in ZIM vs OMA match
Squads:
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
USA: Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane
PAK vs USA, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Pakistan wins the toss and bowls first
- USA powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- USA total score: 160-170
Case 2:
- USA wins the toss and bowls first
- Pakistan powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
- Pakistan total score: 170-180
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
