PAK vs USA T20 World Cup: Shaheens claim second win by 32 runs

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan vs USA clash saw Pakistan register their second win of the T20 World Cup 2026, defeating America by 32 runs in Colombo tonight. Sahibzada Farhan starred for the Shaheens with a blazing 73 off 41 balls, earning the Player of the Match award and helping Pakistan recover from a disappointing loss to the Netherlands.

Pakistan set a challenging target of 191 for the USA in their ICC T20 World Cup clash, thanks to a powerful display of batting led by Sahibzada Farhan. Farhan anchored the innings with a commanding 73 off 41 balls and helped stabilise the innings after a few early losses.

Babar Azam contributed a solid 46 from 32 balls, while Shadab Khan provided a late surge with 30 off just 12 deliveries, striking at a blistering 250. Pakistan’s innings saw contributions from multiple batsmen, but some fell cheaply, including Salman Ali Agha (1) and Faheem Ashraf (1), showing the team battled through moments of pressure.

Extras added 6 runs to Pakistan’s total, and they finished at 190 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Shaheen Afridi remained not out with 9, while Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed were both run out in tight moments.

Chasing 191 runs in the Pak vs USA T20 match, the USA failed to provide their team a convincing chase. Andries Gous, the wicketkeeper, scored 13 runs off 13 balls before being caught by Salman Ali Agha off the bowling of Mohammad Nawaz. Shayan Jahangir played a steady innings, making 49 runs off 34 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, before falling to Shadab Khan, caught by Shaheen Afridi.

Monank Patel, the captain, struggled with the bat and managed just 3 runs from 10 balls, caught by B on Shadab Khan. Milind Kumar contributed 29 runs off 22 balls, including two fours and a six, before being caught by Shaheen Afridi off Usman Tariq. Shubham Ranjane stood out with a quickfire 51 off 30 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes, but was eventually dismissed lbw by Shaheen Afridi.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi could not make an impact, scoring 0 runs off 2 balls before being bowled by Abrar Ahmed. Harmeet Singh added 6 runs from 5 balls, caught by Mohammad Nawaz off Usman Tariq, while Mohammad Mohsin was dismissed for 1 run by Usman Tariq. Shadley van Schalkwyk remained not out on 1 run from 2 balls, and Ehsan Adil also remained unbeaten with 1 run from 2 deliveries. Extras contributed 5 runs to the total.

The USA were finished at 158 for 8 in 20 overs as Pakistan’s bowlers performed impressively.

While the win was convincing, concerns persist over Pakistan’s middle-order stability, which has repeatedly struggled under pressure. The team will hope that continued exposure at this level helps them strengthen this aspect of their batting as the tournament progresses.

Pakistan XI playing XI

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi

USA Playing XI

Andries Gous, Shayan Jahangir, Monank Patel (captain), Babar Azam, Milind Kumar, Usman Khan, Shubham Ranjane, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ehsan Adil