Pakistan face USA challenge in campaign opener today

DALLAS, June 05 (Agencies): Last edition's runner-up Pakistan will take on co-host USA in T20 World Cup opener on Thursday. While on paper, the Babar Azam-led side looks the outright favourite to win the clash, Pakistan's recent form suggests that it might not be a cake walk.
Pakistan lost a T20 International in Ireland and then suffered a 0-2 defeat in England this week, not the ideal result before a global event. Before that, it drew 2-2 at home with a New Zealand side that was missing many of its World Cup squad members.
The run-up to the marquee event has been chaotic to say the least with change in captaincy, shuffling of the top-order and players coming out of retirement.
Babar was reinstated as skipper after Shaheen Afridi was handed the T20 captaincy for a short time. The pacer was offered vice-captaincy later but he refused to take it.
Babar and Mohammad Rizwan are Pakistan's most consistent T20 performers but their strike rate has been a cause of concern as the duo has struggled to accelerate.
But if Pakistan is known to excel in something, it is their unpredictability. It can surprise its opponents or implode any time.
It will bank heavily on its fiery pace department, which features Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Amir, who has come out of retirement.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said on Wednesday that he was fully focused on winning the T20 World Cup 2024, highlight that individual goals could be achieved later.
Speaking to media persons in Dallas, Babar stressed: "What my team requires of me is my commitment, rather than focusing on personal records."
"We have come to the United States well-prepared. We have a clear mindset on what kind of game we would play," Babar remarked. "Our aim is to perform well in the World Cup and achieve success."
Reflecting on past experiences, Babar said that the team had played under such conditions in past as well.
"Our batters have been training indoors and bowlers have been honing their skills on the field," he remarked, highlighting the optimum utilisation of available facilities for practice.
"If there are no warm-up matches, it made us no difference as we have been constantly playing," he stressed.
Regarding the T20 World Cup matches held so far, Babar noted the absence of high-scoring games.
"Some of our players have previously played in the US. This gives them an understanding of the conditions here," he said, adding that all-rounders Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and fast bowler Haris Rauf have an experience of playing here.
Babar stressed the importance of adaptable plans for the team, saying, "We strategise according to what is the best for our team. No batter's position is fixed. The position can vary depending on the situation."
"Unfortunately, Saim Ayub could not perform as was expected of him. He is a game-changer, but he could not get the opportunity he needed," he said.
Meantime, he expressed confidence in Shadab Khan, and said, "As a captain, I have trust in every player, with Shadab being the most reliable as he delivered under all sorts of conditions."