With dreams of T20 World Cup glory burning bright, Babar Azam is ready to lead Pakistan in a quest for their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. The journey begins in Dallas on Thursday, as Pakistan faces hosts United States at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium. The first ball is set to be bowled at 10:30 am local time (8:30 pm Pakistan time).
The stakes are sky-high for Pakistan. On 9 June, they will reignite their fierce rivalry with India in New York, before clashing with Canada on 11 June at the same venue. The first round will culminate in a showdown against Ireland on 16 June in Florida. If Pakistan secures a spot in the Super-Eight stage, they’ll head to Antigua and Barbados for three critical matches from 19 to 23 June.
Babar Azam, ranked No. 4 in the world, has experienced heartbreak in the past two T20 World Cups. In 2021, under his captaincy, Pakistan surged through the tournament with five consecutive wins but fell agonizingly short against Australia in the semi-final. In 2022, Babar’s men reached the final only to be bested by England, who chased down a modest total in a nail-biting finish.
This time, Pakistan’s squad is fortified with seasoned veterans and fresh faces. Key players from the 2022 squad, including Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, return.
The squad sees the comeback of Mohammad Amir, a star of the 2009 World Cup triumph, and Imad Wasim, who last graced the T20 World Cup stage in 2021.
Exciting talents like Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Usman Khan are set to make their debut.
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However, Pakistan will miss the services of Imad Wasim for their opener. The all-rounder, recovering from a rib injury sustained during a practice session, is expected to be fit for the high-voltage clash against India.
In a poetic twist of fate, Pakistan’s triumph in the 2009 T20 World Cup at Lord’s came after a narrow defeat to India in the 2007 final. Babar Azam was a mere 14 years old, aspiring to emulate his heroes. Fast forward to 2017, Babar played a crucial role in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy victory, a testament to his evolution as a cricketer.
BABAR AZAM’S ASPIRATION
“I still remember the 2009 victory vividly. Seeing Younis Khan lift the trophy ignited a fire in me. Being part of the 2017 Champions Trophy win was a dream come true, and now my goal is to lead Pakistan to T20 World Cup glory,” said Babar.
He added, “We’ve prepared rigorously for this moment. Each player is ready to give their all. The excitement and challenge of a world championship bring out the best in us.”
“Playing the USA, a team that has shown their mettle by defeating Bangladesh, will be no walk in the park. We respect every opponent but aim to dominate,” Babar concluded.
Pakistan boasts an impressive T20 World Cup record, with a winning percentage of 60.63 from 47 matches. Besides their 2009 triumph, they reached the finals in 2007 and 2022 and the semi-finals in 2010, 2012, and 2021.
SQUAD: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Usman Khan.
Pakistan’s Schedule of Matches:
- 6 June – vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
- 9 June – vs India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
- 11 June – vs Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
- 16 June – vs Ireland, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
1st Round Groups:
- Group A – India (A1), Pakistan (A2), USA, Canada, and Ireland
- Group B – England (B1), Australia (B2), Namibia, Scotland, and Oman
- Group C – New Zealand (C1), West Indies (C2), Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Group D – South Africa (D1), Sri Lanka (D2), Bangladesh, Netherlands, and Nepal
Super Eight (if Pakistan qualifies):
- 19 June – vs D1, Antigua
- 21 June – vs C2, Barbados
- 23 June – vs B1, Barbados
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