U.S.A. Chose to Field: Pakistan vs USA Playing XI & Live Updates T20 World Cup 2026
USA captain Monank Patel won the toss and chose to field first against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. This crucial decision could define the match as both teams look to secure vital points in their tournament campaign.
The toss decision reflects USA’s confidence in chasing targets, especially after their Super Over victory against Pakistan in Dallas last year. Pakistan will now bat first under lights, knowing they need to post a big total to put pressure on the American batters.
Toss Result & Decision
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Toss Winner | United States of America |
| Decision | Chose to Field |
| Match | 12th Match, Group A |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Time | 7:00 PM Local (6:30 PM IST) |
| Match Type | Night Match (20 overs per side) |
Official Playing XI – Pakistan
| # | Player Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahibzada Farhan | Opening Batter |
| 2 | Babar Azam | Top Order Batter |
| 3 | Fakhar Zaman | Opening Batter |
| 4 | Salman Agha (c) | All-rounder |
| 5 | Usman Khan (wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| 6 | Shadab Khan | All-rounder |
| 7 | Faheem Ashraf | Bowling All-rounder |
| 8 | Mohammad Nawaz | All-rounder |
| 9 | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Naseem Shah | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Abrar Ahmed | Leg Spinner |
Key Team Balance:
- 6 specialist batters (including wicketkeeper)
- 3 genuine all-rounders
- 2 specialist fast bowlers
- 1 specialist spinner
Official Playing XI – United States of America
| # | Player Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monank Patel (c & wk) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| 2 | Saiteja Mukkamalla | Opening Batter |
| 3 | Aaron Jones | Middle Order Batter |
| 4 | Andries Gous | Batter |
| 5 | Nitish Kumar | All-rounder |
| 6 | Harmeet Singh | All-rounder |
| 7 | Jasdeep Singh | Bowling All-rounder |
| 8 | Nosthush Kenjige | Spinner |
| 9 | Ali Khan | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Saurabh Netravalkar | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Milind Kumar | Fast Bowler |
Key Team Balance:
- 4 specialist batters
- 3 all-rounders providing depth
- 4 specialist bowlers (3 pace, 1 spin)
Why USA Chose to Field First
USA’s decision to bowl first makes tactical sense for several reasons:
Dew Factor Advantage Night matches in Colombo typically see dew setting in during the second innings, making the ball slippery for bowlers. Chasing becomes easier as the ball comes onto the bat better and spinners struggle to grip.
Chasing Mentality USA has shown they handle chases better than defending totals. Their batters thrive when they know the exact target, allowing aggressive calculation rather than blind batting.
Pakistan’s Pressure Making Pakistan bat first puts immediate pressure on their batting lineup, which showed nerves against Netherlands. Early wickets could trigger another collapse.
Historical Success Their Super Over victory in Dallas came while chasing, giving them psychological confidence in run chases against Pakistan specifically.
Pakistan’s Batting Challenge
Pakistan now faces the challenge of setting a competitive total on a pitch that favors chasing. Captain Salman Agha will want his top order to fire right from ball one.
Pakistan’s Opening Combination: Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman need to provide a flying start. Both are aggressive players who can put USA’s new-ball bowlers under immediate pressure.
Middle Order Responsibility: Babar Azam remains Pakistan’s anchor. His ability to rotate strike and accelerate in the death overs will be crucial. With the tournament standings showing Pakistan needing net run rate boosts, a big score is essential.
Death Overs Power: Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf provide the lower-order hitting that could push Pakistan toward 180+ if the top order delivers a platform.
USA’s Bowling Strategy
With the ball in hand first, USA’s bowling attack faces a massive test against Pakistan’s quality batting lineup.
New Ball Plans: Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan will handle the powerplay overs. Their ability to swing the new ball could determine if USA can restrict Pakistan early or if they leak runs.
Spin in Middle Overs: Harmeet Singh and Nosthush Kenjige become crucial in the 7-15 over phase. Pakistan’s batters are susceptible to quality spin, as shown in recent matches.
Death Bowling Concerns: This is USA’s weakest link. Milind Kumar and the all-rounders need to execute yorkers and variations perfectly against Pakistan’s power hitters.
Match Conditions & Pitch Report
Weather: Clear skies in Colombo with temperatures around 28°C at start, dropping to 26°C by match end. No rain threats.
Pitch Behavior: The SSC surface traditionally offers early help to seamers before flattening out. Second innings batting becomes easier, supporting USA’s decision to chase.
Boundary Dimensions:
- Straight boundaries: 70 meters
- Square boundaries: 65 meters
- Favors pull shots and cuts
Fans watching the live action should expect a high-scoring encounter if Pakistan’s top order fires.
Key Battles to Watch
Babar Azam vs Harmeet Singh Pakistan’s best batter against USA’s premier spinner. Harmeet’s variations could trouble Babar if he bowls in the right areas.
Shaheen Afridi vs Monank Patel When Pakistan bowls, their pace spearhead against USA’s in-form captain will be box office. Monank’s recent numbers suggest he’s ready for this challenge.
Mohammad Nawaz vs USA’s Left-Handers Nawaz’s left-arm spin could be Pakistan’s trump card against USA’s left-handed batters. His economy rate of 6.67 shows his control.
Group A Implications
This match carries huge importance in the group stage dynamics:
For Pakistan:
- Must win to maintain momentum
- Net run rate boost needed for knockout qualification
- Can’t afford back-to-back defeats to USA
- Psychological blow if they lose again
For USA:
- First win would put tournament campaign back on track
- Another Pakistan victory would be massive for confidence
- Net run rate recovery desperately needed after India loss
- Upset win opens up group dramatically
Historical Context
The Dallas Super Over victory in 2024 remains one of cricket’s greatest upsets. USA defending their Super Over total against Pakistan’s experienced lineup shocked the cricket world.
Dallas Match Summary (June 6, 2024):
- Match tied after regulation
- USA won Super Over
- Shockwaves through cricket community
- Put USA cricket on global map
Tonight’s match gives Pakistan their revenge opportunity while USA can prove Dallas wasn’t a fluke.
What Experts Are Saying
Cricket analysts are split on this one. Some believe Pakistan’s superior experience and bowling attack should prevail, while others point to USA’s belief and momentum from their previous victory.
Prediction Consensus: Pakistan 60% favorites, USA 40% chance of causing another upset.
Live Updates & Scoring
For ball-by-ball updates, score tracking, and instant highlights as the match progresses, check the complete tournament schedule and live scoring section.
Powerplay Target for Pakistan: 50+ runs without losing more than 1 wicket
Competitive First Innings Total: 175+ gives Pakistan strong chance
USA’s Chase Target: Anything under 170 becomes very achievable
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who won the toss in Pakistan vs USA T20 World Cup 2026? A: United States of America won the toss and chose to field first against Pakistan.
Q: What is Pakistan’s playing XI against USA? A: Pakistan’s XI includes Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, and others.
Q: What is USA’s playing XI against Pakistan? A: USA’s XI features Monank Patel (c & wk), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Aaron Jones, Harmeet Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Milind Kumar, and others.
Q: Why did USA choose to field first? A: USA chose to field due to dew factor in night matches, their strength in chasing targets, and to put pressure on Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Q: What time did Pakistan vs USA match start? A: The match started at 7:00 PM local Colombo time (6:30 PM IST) on February 10, 2026.
Q: Where is Pakistan vs USA match being played? A: The match is being played at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
