Pakistan suffered a shocking defeat against the USA in the previous T20 World Cup, losing in a Super Over — a result that led to an early exit and was widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.
Ahead of the recent World Cup clash in Colombo, some analysts believed Pakistan might still be psychologically affected by that loss. There were concerns that the team could adopt a cautious or defensive approach against the Americans.
What unfolded on the field, however, was a completely different Pakistan side.
صرف ایک کلک، اور ہر اہم خبر سب سے پہلے آپ کے موبائل پر
ابھی جوائن کریںAggressive and Fearless Cricket from Ball One
From the very start, Pakistan played positive, attacking cricket. The intent was clear in the powerplay, where Pakistan scored 56 runs in the first six overs. Salman Agha was dismissed on the final ball of the powerplay; otherwise, only one wicket would have fallen during that phase.
This fearless approach continued throughout the match. Pakistan posted an imposing 190-run total and then bowled out the USA for 158, securing a convincing 32-run victory.
More importantly, the match was one-sided from start to finish. Pakistan didn’t just beat the USA — they completely outclassed them.
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Smart Use of Spin: A Bold and Successful Strategy
The standout feature of Pakistan’s performance was its bold and well-thought-out bowling strategy.
صرف ایک کلک، اور ہر اہم خبر سب سے پہلے آپ کے موبائل پر
ابھی جوائن کریںPakistan opted to play with only one fast bowler, dropping Salman Mirza — who had taken three wickets in the previous match — and instead brought in mystery spinner Usman Tariq. It was a brave decision, and it paid off handsomely.
Recognizing the USA team’s inexperience, Pakistan attacked with spin. Alongside Usman Tariq, Pakistan fielded:
- Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed
- Leg-spinner Shadab Khan
- Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz
- An additional spin option in Saim Ayub
Using five spinners to choke the American batting lineup proved to be a masterstroke. USA batters struggled badly against the turn, variation, and deception of Usman, Abrar, and Shadab.
Mohammad Nawaz’s bowling was also effective. Saim Ayub bowled just one over, which was slightly expensive, but his services were not required further.
After a long time, Pakistan appeared to have created a comprehensive, opponent-specific plan — and executed it perfectly.
Usman Tariq: Pakistan’s Mystery Weapon
Usman Tariq is a very different kind of spinner and could emerge as Pakistan’s secret weapon in this World Cup.
His bowling action is unusual and deceptive. He briefly pauses mid-action, often making batters think he might abort the delivery and then suddenly releases the ball with pace. His arm also has a slight bend, which previously raised concerns, but he has since been cleared by an ICC-approved lab.
Beyond his action, Usman’s biggest strength is variation:
- Off-spin
- Carrom ball
- Leg-break carrom
- Faster deliveries close to 100 km/h
- Slower balls with the same action
In this match, he bowled Mohammad Mehdi with a 100 km/h leg-break carrom ball — exceptionally fast for a spinner.
Thanks to extensive domestic experience, Usman bowls intelligently according to field placements and match situations.
What Is a Carrom Ball?
A carrom ball is a special spin delivery flicked from the fingers, named after the carrom board game due to the flicking motion used by bowlers.
صرف ایک کلک، اور ہر اہم خبر سب سے پہلے آپ کے موبائل پر
ابھی جوائن کریںThe ball is gripped between the thumb and middle finger, and a sharp flick of the middle finger generates spin. Depending on the release, it can behave like:
- An off-break (turning into a right-hander)
- Or a leg-break (turning away)
The delivery is believed to have been invented by an Australian spinner before World War II, but it was popularized by Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis.
Bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Abrar Ahmed, and now Usman Tariq are considered experts at it.
Sahibzada Farhan’s Explosive Batting
Another major highlight was Sahibzada Farhan’s blistering innings. He attacked from the outset, smashing towering sixes and powerful boundaries. Impressively, he also rotated the strike effectively.
Farhan scored 73 runs at a strike rate of 178. He could have gone on to score a century, but instead played a selfless innings for the team.
Babar Azam: Signs of Progress, But Room for Improvement
Saim Ayub threw his wicket away despite being set, which briefly slowed momentum.
When Babar Azam came in, Pakistan had already lost two wickets in the powerplay. He initially focused on singles and getting settled, but became slightly too slow — scoring 15 runs off 18 balls.
Suddenly, Babar shifted gears, attacking spinner Harmeet Singh with one six and two boundaries. He eventually scored 46 off 32 balls at a strike rate of 143.
Babar could have easily completed a half-century, but instead chose to play aggressively in line with match conditions and got out.
This innings should reassure his fans. However, in modern T20 cricket, starts like 15 off 18 or 10 off 13 balls are increasingly difficult to justify. Hopefully, his early-innings tempo improves in upcoming matches.
Shadab Khan’s All-Round Brilliance
Shadab Khan delivered an excellent all-round performance:
- 30 runs off 12 balls at a stunning 250 strike rate
- Effective bowling spells
He once again proved his value as a genuine T20 all-rounder.
Late-Order Collapse and Tactical Error
Pakistan’s batting collapsed slightly towards the end. Shadab and Nawaz were dismissed quickly, Faheem failed to contribute, Usman Khan was run out, and Shaheen Afridi hit a six in the final over — otherwise the total might have remained around 182.
Sending Mohammad Nawaz ahead of Shadab was a tactical experiment that failed badly. Nawaz wasted deliveries and could not accelerate. This mistake should ideally not be repeated.
Strong Fielding and the Road Ahead
Pakistan’s fielding was impressive overall, with sharp catching and tight ground fielding. However, substitute fielder Khawaja Nafay dropped a simple catch.
Well done, Team Pakistan.
The next big challenge is against India on February 15.
The key question:
Will Pakistan stick with this successful spin-heavy strategy, or will Salman Mirza return to the XI? for more latest cricket news please visit our website : Lesmeilleurs.pk
Best of luck to the Pakistan team.
