COLOMBO: Pakistan prepared for the marquee 15 February match against India with a clinical performance against the USA in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo on Tuesday.

Pakistan posted 190 for nine after being put into bat and then restricted the USA to 158 for eight to register a 32-run victory in a Group A fixture. This was Pakistan’s second successive victory in the competition after they carved out a hard-fought three-wicket victory against the Netherlands last week.

The victory not only enabled the 2009 champions to gain the much-needed confidence and momentum for the India match, but it also helped them bury the ghost of the 2024 loss when the USA shocked the world by winning in a Super Over that eventually led to Pakistan’s elimination in the first round.

When the USA played India last week, they gave the defending champions a run for their money. India had slipped to 77 for six before Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning 49-ball 84 lifted them to 161 for nine. The USA then slid to 13 for three before recovering to finish at 132 for eight, with Mohammad Siraj picking up three wickets and Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel snapping up two wickets apiece.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s 190-9 revolved around a 51-run first-wicket partnership off 31 balls between Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, and an 81-run third-wicket stand between Sahibzada and Babar Azam from 53 balls. Although Pakistan were unable to accelerate in the last two overs, scoring only 11 runs, they still collected 53 runs in the final five overs while losing five wickets – thanks to Shadab Khan’s 12-ball 30 with four fours and a six.

Sahibzada Farhan was once again the top scorer with a fluent and impressive 73 from 41 balls, including six fours and five sixes. Babar Azam also had a good outing, scoring 46 off 36 balls with four fours and a six.

For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk was the pick of the bowlers with four for 25, while Ehsan Adil, who played three Tests and six ODIs for Pakistan from 2013-2015, conceded 39 runs in his three wicketless overs on his USA debut.

In their run-chase, the USA put up a strong fight before finishing on 158-8 to go down by 32 runs.

USA’s middle-order batter Shubham Ranjane struck some exquisite shots in his 30-ball 51, which included three fours and three sixes, while opener Shayan Jahangir scored 49 from 34 balls with five fours and two sixes.

For Pakistan, Usman Tariq returned figures of three for 27, while Shadab Khan completed an all-round performance by collecting two wickets for 26 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi snapped up his only wicket in the final over while giving away 42 runs in his four overs. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed scooped a wicket each.

Group A – Pakistan beat USA by 32 runs

Pakistan 190-9, 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46, Shadab Khan 30, Saim Ayub 19; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4-25)

USA 158-8, 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49, Milind Kumar 29; Usman Tariq 3-27, Shadab Khan 2-26)

Player of the match – Sahibzada Farhan