Canada vs Pakistan
New York, 10.30 am
The big picture: Can the 2022 winners survive?
The nature of planning for the 2024 T20 World Cup means that the forgettable must at least be shelved for a while. Pakistan may have time to process its heartache after the loss to India, which promises to leave scars after the tournament is relegated to a distant, unpleasant memory. However, they don’t have that time right now. Less than 48 hours after the chase, Babar Azam’s team must remove themselves from the canvas, stagger, and try to stand upright again as Canada comes calling.
Pakistan always knew they had two games in three days, but during Sunday’s chase, that looked more like a blessing than a curse. A win over India would allow them to ride a wave of momentum to repair the damage of the loss to the USA in their opening game. Instead, Babar will lead a dejected, slumping team in the match against Canada to ensure Pakistan stay for a few days.
Canada, on the other hand, finds itself in the unusual position of undermining its fiercest rivals. If it wasn’t for Aaron Jones who played in the opening game of the tournament, Saad Bin Zafar’s team would have won twice in two games. They also showed impressive composure to overturn that devastating loss by coming back to beat Ireland.
If in the first game, Canada showed that they have the batsmen below to get big scores, they showed in the second the quality of the bowlers to successfully pressure Ireland to defend 137. Add to that a very good playing. is playing well, and this is a team that has shown they have both the hunger and the ability to cause serious trouble in group A. And against Pakistan’s players who are still licking their wounds, there couldn’t be a better opportunity to get them back on the canvas one last time.
Pakistan: LLLLW (last five games completed, most recent first)
Canada:WLL
Featured: RizBar and Nicholas Kirton
How Babar and Mohammad Rizwan choose to approach the innings will be interesting. After being criticized for their low-scoring run against India, expect both to try and come out on top against the Canadians, whether Pakistan bat first or second. That could mean the game gets some of that trademark RizBar partnership where the strokeplay hits. At the same time, it gives Canada a chance to get an early wicket or two, and set their teeth on a low-confidence middle order.
Canada will be thankful for Nicholas Kirton, 26, born in Barbados, who was not taken by the West Indies, because in this tournament, he showed personality and level of playing in the big league. He hit a 39-ball 52 in a warm-up match against Nepal, and followed it up with 51 and 49 against the USA and Ireland, off 66 balls. The left-hander has the eloquence and ability to swing, and the ability to use his wrists to open up a lot of ground has made it difficult to bowl. If, in the New York stadium no one seems certain, Kirton can play one of those innings, he will cause problems for Pakistan.
Team news: Will Pakistan turn to Ayub?
There are no fresh injury concerns and the limited ways Pakistan can reshuffle the 15-man squad. Saim Ayub may be buzzing back into the side, leaving one of Usman Khan or Shadab vulnerable to relegation.
Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Fakhar Zaman, 5 Shadab Khan/Usman Khan, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Amir
Canada is likely to go in unchanged following their win over Ireland.
Canada (probable): 1 Aaron Johnson, 2 Navneet Dhaliwal, 3 Pargat Singh, 4 Dilpreet Bajwa, 5 Nicholas Kirton, 6 Shreyas Movva (wk), 7 Dilon Heyliger, 8 Saad Bin Zafar (capt), 9 Kaleem Sana, 10 Junaid Siddiqui , 11 Jeremy Gordon
Tone and context: New territory on the cards
Rain has delayed the start of the India-Pakistan clash in New York, but no weather disruptions are expected on Tuesday. It is expected that a new stadium will be used in the clash between Canada and Pakistan.
Stats and trivia: Pakistan need more from batsmen
“I’m really happy with the swinging. I’ve been getting better and we’ve followed their stats in these 15-odd games, and they’ve been a fantastic bowling team from 10 to 20 overs – I think that’s our record between overs. 10 to for 20 as the bowling unit is at its best when it is leading.”
Pakistani coach Gary Kirsten spoke about his team’s bowling after their defeat against India
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