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After a nail-biting six-run defeat to India, Pakistan’s cricketers have had no time to dwell on their loss as they prepare to face Canada in the T20 World Cup 2024. The tight schedule leaves no room for licking wounds, pushing the team to quickly regroup and strategize.
The criticism following their performances against the USA and India has been relentless. Even Gary Kirsten, Pakistan’s new coach, emphasized the need for players to evolve or step aside. Despite the scrutiny, Pakistan’s bowlers showcased their prowess against India, setting high expectations for their match against a relatively inexperienced Canadian side. The absence of a top-tier spinner is a concern, but Pakistan’s formidable pace quartet promises a challenging game for Canada.
The batting lineup, however, remains a puzzle. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, reunited at the top, might see a shake-up with Saim Ayub potentially coming in. If Babar shifts to No. 3, Usman Khan might have to step down. Despite his waning leg-spin, Shadab Khan continues to be a vital middle-order hitter for Pakistan.
On the Canadian side, their batting shone against the USA, narrowly losing due to Aaron Jones’s stellar performance. Their win against Ireland highlighted their bowling strength. To upset Pakistan, both their batting and bowling units need to excel. Nicholas Kirton, with his impressive ball-striking, could be the game-changer.
PAK vs CAN Predicted XIs:
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir.
Canada: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Dilpreet Bajwa, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Dilon Heyliger, Saad Bin Zafar (c), Kaleem Sana, Junaid Siddiqui, Jeremy Gordon.
PAK vs CAN Toss Time:
The match kicks off at 8pm IST, with the toss scheduled for 7:30pm.
PAK vs CAN Telecast and Streaming:
Catch the action live on the Star Sports network and stream it on Disney+ Hotstar.
