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Match Preview – CAN vs PAK 22nd Match, Group A, T20 World Cup

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Match Preview Can Vs Pak 22nd Match, Group A,

Match details

Canada vs Pakistan
New York, 10.30am local

Big picture: Can the 2022 finalists stay alive?

The nature of T20 World Cup 2024 programming means that anything that cannot be forgotten must at least be shelved temporarily. Pakistan may have time to process their heartache after the loss to India, which promises to leave scars long after this tournament has been consigned to a distant, unpleasant memory. However, they don’t have that time right now. Less than 48 hours after a chase they collected, Babar Azam’s side must rise from the canvas, staggering, and try to stand tall once more as Canada beckons.

Pakistan always knew they had these two games in three days, but halfway through the chase on Sunday, that felt like a blessing rather than a curse. A win against India would allow them to ride that tidal wave of momentum to undo the damage of the USA’s loss in their opening game. Instead, Babar will lead a dejected, disillusioned team into the Canada game just to ensure Pakistan stay alive for a few more days.

Canada, meanwhile, find themselves in the somewhat unusual position of looking down the table at their fancier rivals. Had it not been for an Aaron Jones blitz in the opening game of this tournament, Saad Bin Zafar’s side would have come into this match with two wins from two games. They then also showed impressive composure to shake off that bruising loss, coming back to overcome Ireland.

If in the first game, Canada showed they have the batting to score, in the second they proved the quality of their bowling line-up to effectively squeeze Ireland into a defense of 137. Add to that a superb fielding performance, and this is a team that has shown he has both the hunger and ability to trouble most in Group A. And against a Pakistan side still licking their wounds, there may never be a better chance to send them back to the canvas one last time .

Form guide

Pakistan: LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Canada: WLLLL

In the spotlight: RizBar and Nicholas Kirton

How Babar and Mohammad Rizwan choose to approach the innings will be a point of interest. After being criticized for their calm pace in pursuit of a low score against India, expect both to look to go all guns blazing against the Canadians, whether Pakistan bat first or second. This could mean the game gets one of those trademark RizBar collaborations where the strokeplay sizzles. At the same time, it gives Canada a chance to get an early wicket or two and sink their teeth into a middle order that is low on confidence.

Canada will be thankful 26-year-old Barbados-born Nicholas Kirton was not lured away from the West Indies because in this tournament, he has shown the personality and quality to perform on the big stage. He started the tournament with a 39-ball 52 in a warm-up game against Nepal and followed it up with 51 and 49 against USA and Ireland, which produced a total of 66 balls. The left-hander has an elegance and flair to his shooting, and the ability to use his wrists to open up as much ground as possible has made him difficult to bowl. If, on a New York pitch no one seems sure, Kirton can play another one of those innings, it will spell trouble for Pakistan.

Team News: Will Pakistan turn to Ayub?

There are no fresh injury concerns and limited ways in which Pakistan can revamp their current 15-man squad. Saim Ayub may have a shout back into the side, which leaves one of Usman Khan or Shadab vulnerable to the drop.

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 are likely to remain unchanged after 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 Sid , 11 Jeremy Gordon

Step and conditions: A fresh surface on paper

Rain delayed the start of the India-Pakistan clash in New York, but no weather breaks are expected on Tuesday. A new stadium is expected to be used for the Canada-Pakistan clash.

Stats and Trivia: Pakistan needs more than rags

  • Babar’s dry run in T20 World Cups since the start of the 2022 edition continues. During this time he averages 20.11, with a strike rate of 97.31, having scored 181 runs in nine innings
  • The only time Pakistan lost their first two matches in a T20 World Cup was in 2022. They have never lost their first three matches
  • Only three players have scored more runs than Kirton’s 100 in this T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s top scorer is Babar, way behind with 57

Quotation marks

“There is no way we can get complacent. If anyone gets complacent after two defeats, then whoever it is, they don’t deserve to play for the country. You can’t take any team lightly in T20 cricket. We have to be The morale of the team is down, but this is the moment when we will show our character.
Azhar Mahmood he doesn’t expect any of Pakistan’s players to get complacent against Canada

“These [Pakistan] they are very skilled players. Most of the guys have traveled the world playing league cricket, not just international cricket, so their skills are there. But if you’re looking for an opportunity, you have to enjoy these moments. I think the fact that the wicket is playing some tricks, it levels the playing field for us. We try to use it to our advantage.”
Aaron Johnson believes the New York stadium makes it a level playing field for Canada

Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000

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