Ireland vs Pakistan
June 16, Lauderhill, Florida, 10:30am local time
The big picture: The end of two disappointing campaigns
There are parties you don’t want to be at, and parties the host doesn’t want you to be at. And then there are the parties that no one wants to be at.
Pakistan and Ireland find themselves in that last situation, in very wet conditions in Lauderhill, Florida. Both have been ruled out of the T20 World Cup, and nothing that happened during their final group game on Sunday could change that. But it has to be played, weather permitting, so they will prepare for one game that will have no impact on this tournament, and almost no impact on qualifying for the next one in 2026.
In Pakistan, there is one day left in America before the players return to face the wrath of the nation that has been raging these days following the defeat by the USA and India. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in an unassailable position, and is expected to make changes in the coming weeks, with Pakistan’s central contracts also up for review at the end of this month. Babar Azam’s men can do nothing to change the situation at home, although another defeat will not help matters.
Ireland also endured a disappointing tournament, especially as the build-up was promising. A home win over Pakistan and a T20 tri-nation series win in the Netherlands. But a horrendous collapse in New York against India set the tone for a poor campaign, with defeat against Canada the nadir. Although their chances of qualifying were thought to be there before Lauderhill’s weather washed away their game against the hosts, all that remains now is the hope that they can finish on a high note for their team in the USA.
Pakistan: WLLLL (last five games completed, most recent)
Ireland: LLWWW
This is almost certain Photo by Imad Wasim the last international game. Arguing against his reinstatement, he failed to give the star player Pakistan believed he would bring when he pleaded with him to withdraw his international retirement. His bowling has been solid, if unimpressive, without hitting of any heft, a point his innings during Pakistan’s painfully stressed India chase. His pre-tournament statement that “nobody remembers the semi-finalists and finalists, people remember the champions” is as old as milk after Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup exit, but for now, the game to remember as he signs off is the best consolation he could ask for.
Lorcan Tucker he scored two wickets in three matches against Pakistan last month, before following up with 40 and 55 in the tri-series against the Netherlands and Scotland. Since then, his runs have dried up as Ireland’s T20 World Cup campaign has been in full swing before it even got off the ground. He was able to start in each group game, scoring two points while facing 13 and 15 balls. Despite the pressure and minor losses, Tucker has a chance to regain the form he found against Pakistan a few weeks ago.
Pakistan might give Abrar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi – two players who haven’t got a game so far – a start.
Pakistan: (probable) 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 2 Saim Ayub 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Fakhar Zaman 5 Usman Khan 6 Shadab Khan 7 Imad Wasim 8 Shaheen Afridi/Abbas Afridi 9 Naseem Shah/Abrar Ahmed 10 Haris 11 Mo Rauf Afridi
It’s been a week since Ireland last played, so it’s tricky to predict how Ireland will play.
Ireland: (probable) 1 Andy Balbirnie 2 Paul Stirling (capt) 3 Lorcan Tucker (wk) 4 Harry Tector 5 Curtis Campher 6 George Dockrell 7 Gareth Delany 8 Mark Adair 9 Barry McCarthy 10 Josh Little 11 Craig Young/Ben White
The games at Lauderhill between the USA and Ireland on Friday, and India and Canada on Saturday, were both abandoned due to heavy rain and a very wet pitch. The forecast for Sunday is better, however, depending on how much rain falls overnight and the condition of the outfield in the morning.
Pakistan has never been eliminated from the T20 World Cup after just three matches
Ireland have lost four consecutive T20 World Cup matches. They have only had one bad run, when they lost six times in a row at the 2009, 2010 and 2012 World Cups.
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