Final Result
Pakistan finally got their campaign underway in the T20 World Cup 2024 by beating Canada in their Group A clash at the Nassau County Stadium.
Chasing a modest 107 for victory on a tricky pitch, the Men in Green rode on veteran Muhammad Rizwan's unbeaten half-century to cross the finish line in 17.3 overs.
Rizwan top-scored from either side, guiding Pakistan to 107 for 3 with his 53 not out off as many balls. The wicketkeeper's knock included 2 fours and a six.
It was again his partnership with Babar Azam which took Pakistan to safety this time after two horrendous batting collapses against India and USA.
Babar scored run-a-ball 33 with one four and a six in a typical captain's knock, just what Pakistan needed.
With this result, Babar & Co. keep their hopes alive of reaching the Super 8s by the barest of margins.
Mid-Innings Score
Canada managed to get to a three-digit score against a strong Pakistani bowling unit which fired from all cylinders once again in New York.
The Men in Green restricted the Canadians to 106 for 7 in 20 overs after two wickets each from Mohammad Amir and Haris Rauf.
Aaron Johnson top-scored for Canada with 52 runs at the top of the order.
Toss Update:
Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first against Canada in New York. The Men in Green have brought in Saim Ayub in their playing XI and dropped the experienced Iftikhar Ahmed, while the Canadians have also made 1 change to their team.
Canada XI: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva(w), Ravinderpal Singh, Saad Bin Zafar(c), Dillon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Junaid Siddiqui, Jeremy Gordon
Pakistan XI: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir
CAN vs PAK Preview
After a series of shocking defeats, Pakistan finds itself in a must-win scenario as they prepare to face Canada in their penultimate group stage match of the T20 World Cup in New York on Tuesday.
Pakistan's World Cup journey began with a crushing Super Over loss to co-hosts USA in their opening Group A match. This was followed by a narrow six-run defeat against their fierce rivals, India, in a low-scoring game on Sunday, leaving Pakistan with slim chances of advancing.
To keep their Super Eight hopes alive, Pakistan needs dominant wins against both Canada and Ireland. Additionally, they must rely on significant losses for the USA in their games against India and Ireland. Even if these conditions are met, Pakistan and the USA would both have four points, making net run rate the deciding factor.
Currently, the USA boasts a strong net run rate (NRR) of +0.626, meaning just one more win against Ireland would likely secure their progression. Pakistan, with a struggling NRR of -0.150, not only needs victories but must achieve them by large margins to boost their chances.
As Pakistan gears up to face Canada, the stakes couldn't be higher. They must produce exceptional performances and hope for favourable outcomes in other matches to keep their World Cup aspirations alive. The pressure is on, and Pakistan needs to deliver when it matters most.
