NEW DELHI: Pakistan will head into their T20 World Cup clash against the USA eager to put a painful chapter behind them, facing the same opponents who stunned them 20 months ago. The two sides meet again in Colombo on Tuesday, with memories of that shock defeat still lingering in the background.

The USA had announced themselves on the global stage during their World Cup debut in 2024, producing a landmark victory over Pakistan that sent ripples through the tournament. After opening their 2026 campaign with a loss to India, the Americans will be keen to recreate that magic in the evening contest at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Batting flaws need to be fixed

Both teams enter the match with clear batting concerns. Pakistan appeared in control while chasing 148 against the Netherlands before a dramatic middle-order collapse nearly derailed them. Faheem Ashraf's composure eventually guided them home, but the implosion exposed lingering fragilities.

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The USA, meanwhile, pushed defending champions India hard at the Wankhede, with their bowlers delivering a disciplined performance. However, the batters failed to capitalise on the pressure created, letting the match slip away.

Pressure mounts on Babar Azam

All eyes will be on Babar Azam for Pakistan, with the former captain under scrutiny after returning to the T20 setup. Opener Saim Ayub will also be expected to contribute more with the bat, having made a greater impact with the ball in recent outings than at the top of the order.

With confidence, history, and redemption all at play, Tuesday's contest promises to be far more than just another group-stage fixture.

Captain Salman Ali Agha feels his players need to handle pressure better than how they did against The Netherlands.

"We batted really well. And then they managed to pull wickets down. And then at that time, the pressure came in. And I think we need to absorb pressure better when it comes to these kinds of games.

"It's not easy to start, but once you get in, it's a good wicket to bat on. When someone gets in, we need to make sure that person will finish," said Agha, who also needs to deliver with the bat after his move up the order.

Form, fitness concerns for USA

USA will be looking for an improved batting effort at the top of the order. By captain Monank Patel's own admission, they were guilty of playing loose shots in the powerplay against India. Monank too fell to a soft dismissal.

Led by South Africa-born Shadley Van Schalkwyk, they had a good night with the ball. However, senior pacer Saurabh Netravalkar had an opening game to forget and would be itching to make an impact against Pakistan.

USA practised in Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC event and are familiar with the conditions. Question marks remain over the fitness of their pacer Ali Khan who limped off the field against India.

"I thought the intent (with the bat) was a bit missing there because we lost a few wickets initially. But a lot of learning from this game and a lot of positives. And definitely this game is going to help us in running forward," said Monank following the loss to India.

Squads:

USA: Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

Match starts 7 PM.