Pakistan defeated the United States by 32 runs in their Group A match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 10, 2026, at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Sahibzada Farhan hit 73 runs off 41 balls to power Pakistan to 190 for 9 in their 20 overs before the bowlers restricted USA to 158 for 8 in reply.
The win gave Pakistan revenge for their shock Super Over loss to the USA at the 2024 T20 World Cup and moved them to the top of Group A with four points from two matches. Farhan smashed five sixes and six fours in his knock, becoming the fourth Pakistani to reach 1,000 T20 international runs. He got there in just 41 matches, faster than senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan managed.
Farhan and Babar Power Pakistan to 190
Pakistan got off to a flying start after the USA won the toss and chose to bowl. Farhan and Saim Ayub put on 54 runs in the first five overs, hitting five sixes in that period to equal the record for most sixes in the opening five overs of a T20 international. Ayub fell for 19 off 17 balls, but Farhan kept going.
Babar Azam joined Farhan and the pair added 81 runs for the third wicket. Babar played the supporting role, scoring 46 off 32 balls with four boundaries and one six. Farhan reached his fifty and continued attacking until he was dismissed in the 15th over. His 73 came off just 41 deliveries at a strike rate of 178.04.
Shadab Khan smashed 30 runs off only 12 balls near the end, hitting at a strike rate of 250. But Pakistan lost five wickets for 13 runs in the final two overs as USA bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk picked up four wickets for 25 runs. Van Schalkwyk had taken the same figures of 4 for 25 against India vs USA earlier in the tournament, making him the only bowler with identical four-wicket hauls in different matches at this World Cup.
USA Chase Falls Apart in Middle Overs06
The USA started their chase well with openers Shayan Jahangir and Andries Gous putting on 50 runs in the powerplay. Jahangir scored 49 off 34 balls before getting out, while Shubham Ranjane top scored with 51 off 30 balls, including three sixes. The USA reached 123 for 3 and looked capable of chasing down the target.
But Pakistan’s spinners killed the chase in the middle overs. Usman Tariq took three wickets for 27 runs, and Shadab Khan grabbed two for 26 as USA managed just 29 runs between overs six and 12. That scoring rate of 4.14 runs per over was less than half their powerplay rate of 10 runs per over. USA collapsed from 123 for 3 to 158 for 8, losing their last five wickets for 35 runs.
Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz also bowled tight spells to keep the pressure on. Shaheen Shah Afridi was playing his 100th T20 international and took the important wicket of Ranjane when the USA still had a chance. The American team could not recover from the middle overs squeeze applied by the Pakistani spinners.
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What This Result Means
Pakistan now sit on top of Group A with four points from two wins. They had earlier beaten the Netherlands by three wickets in their opening match. The victory over USA was particularly satisfying after the Americans shocked Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage before going on to reach the Super Eight round.
USA’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages took a hit with this loss.Several of their Pakistan-born USA players faced visa issues before the tournament, and the team struggled to build momentum after a good start against Pakistan. Their middle overs collapse cost them any realistic chance of chasing 191 runs.
Farhan won the Player of the Match award for his 73 runs, though Shadab Khan was named the match MVP with an impact score of 69.64 points for his all-around performance with bat and ball. Pakistan will look to continue their winning form in their remaining group matches as they aim for a spot in the Super Eight stage.
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