Pakistan’s recent performance in the World Cup has been anything but inspiring. Following a lackluster batting display against India, the team now faces Canada in what should theoretically be a straightforward win. However, given their recent form, Pakistan cannot afford any more slip-ups. The pressure is on for the former champions as they strive to stay afloat in the tournament.

The Pressure on Pakistan

Pakistan’s batting lineup has been struggling to find form. Key players have under-performed, and the team has failed to post competitive scores. This inconsistency has been a major concern, especially in high-stakes matches.

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The continuous string of poor performances has undoubtedly affected the team’s morale. Confidence is low, and the players are under immense pressure to turn things around quickly.

Urgency to Perform Well

With the possibility of elimination looming, Pakistan must win their upcoming match against Canada. Even a victory guarantees them only a slim chance of progressing further in the tournament, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 Qualification Scenario:

Babar Azam’s team should defeat Canada and Ireland by a big margin so that they can improve their net run rate which is at -0.150 at the moment. The USA’s NRR is +0.626, and India’s is +1.455.

Pakistan can qualify if India win against the USA and Canada, and the USA lose their remaining matches. However, the USA can still qualify with a win against Ireland, so Pakistan’s fate isn’t entirely in their hands.

What happens if rain washes out Pakistan vs Canada match?

If rain washes out the entire contest, points will be shared between Pakistan and Canada for the match, with both teams getting one point each. In that case, it would become impossible for Babar’s men to topple USA’s tally of 4 points. Hence, a washed-out contest would lead to Pakistan’s elimination from the Super 8 race.

Analyzing Pakistan’s Performance

Batting Woes

The top-order batsmen, who are usually the backbone of Pakistan’s batting, have struggled to make significant contributions. This has put additional pressure on the middle and lower order, who have also failed to deliver consistently.

In the last few matches, Pakistan’s batting average has been disappointing. They have struggled to build partnerships and capitalize on good starts, often collapsing under pressure.

Bowling Brilliance

While the batting has faltered, Pakistan’s pacers have shown promise. They have consistently taken early wickets and maintained pressure on the opposition.

Players like Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali have been standout performers, leading the bowling attack with impressive spells. Their ability to swing the ball and generate pace has been a silver lining for Pakistan.

Challenges Faced by Pakistan

One of the biggest challenges for Pakistan has been their inconsistency. They have shown glimpses of brilliance but have failed to maintain it throughout the matches.

In high-pressure situations, Pakistan has often crumbled. Their inability to dominate during crucial moments has cost them dearly.

A series of defeats has led to a decline in form and confidence. The psychological impact of continuous losses cannot be underestimated, and the team needs to find a way to regain their confidence.

Canada’s Rising Confidence

Canada, on the other hand, is coming off a historic win against Ireland. This victory has boosted their confidence, and they will be looking to build on this momentum.

Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva have been standout performers for Canada. Their contributions with the bat have been crucial in securing their first-ever T20 World Cup win.

The win against Ireland has given Canada a significant morale boost. They will enter the match against Pakistan with a sense of belief and optimism.

When: Tuesday, June 11, 10:30 AM (Local Time), 8:00 PM (IST)

Where: Pakistan vs Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York

Head to head: Pakistan 1 – 0 Canada

Team Watch:

Pakistan’s Probable XI: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad, Imad Wasim/Azam Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir

Canada’s Probable XI: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Dilpreet Bajwa, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva, Dillon Heylinger, Saad bin Zafar, Junai Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Jeremy Gordon

Did you know?

• Pakistan’s Powerplay run-rate of 5.41 is currently the lowest among the 20 teams in the T20 WC 2024
• Aaron Johnson has had a strike rate of 147.40 in the Powerplay in T20Is since the last T20 World Cup. In comparison, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan have had strike rates of 132.03 and 121.43 respectively in this period

What they said:

Bouncing back from the first game was important. Trust me, it wasn’t that easy… Very good to get our first win in the WC. Hopefully we can continue from strength to strength. Our next focus is Pakistan – Nicholas Kirton, following Canada’s win against Ireland

As a batting unit, you can’t lose as many wickets as we are losing. Players have got to take responsibility when that opportunity comes – Gary Kirsten after Pakistan’s loss against India