‘All the pressure on Pakistan’: USA eye another T20 World Cup shock as old wounds resurface

USA cricketers, and Pakistan cricketers during the T20 World Cup.

NEW DELHI: Pakistan head into their high-stakes T20 World Cup clash against the United States in Colombo on Tuesday with expectations mounting and memories of a stunning upset still fresh. Two years after USA’s famous Super Over victory in Dallas, leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin believes the psychological edge lies firmly with the underdogs.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“The pressure of losing the last game will be on Pakistan,” Mohsin said, warning that the Americans are better prepared and more confident than ever. The USA nearly produced another surprise in their tournament opener against India in Mumbai, reducing the hosts to 77/6 before eventually going down by 29 runs — a performance that has only strengthened their belief.

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Mohsin, who grew up playing cricket in Pakistan before moving to the United States five years ago, revealed he has shared inside knowledge with his teammates. “I have played with most of the players in this Pakistan team, so I have given my input to the team and we are a more skilled and confident side now,” he added.Pakistan pacer Salman Mirza, however, insisted the shock loss from 2024 would not weigh on the squad. “Winning and losing are part of the game. The defeat against the USA is now past and behind us,” he said, even as he acknowledged the growing threat posed by emerging teams. “Until now all the matches are close and no team is small or big in this format.”

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The 2009 champions already flirted with danger in their opening win over the Netherlands, needing late heroics from Faheem Ashraf to escape defeat. With qualification to the Super Eight stage on the line, Pakistan know another slip could prove costly.As pressure builds, potential changes loom, with experienced batter Fakhar Zaman tipped to replace an out-of-form Babar Azam. Against a fearless USA side chasing history again, Pakistan face a test not just of skill, but of nerve.