Rizwan Guides Pakistan to a Much Needed Victory

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Muhammad Rizwan’s steady, unbeaten half-century propelled Pakistan to a crucial seven-wicket victory over Canada in a T20 World Cup qualifying match held at Eisenhower Park in New York. This win keeps Pakistan’s hopes of advancing to the Super 8s alive.

Canada, batting first, posted a total of 106-7 in their allotted 20 overs, with Aaron Johnson top-scoring with a brisk 52 off 44 balls, including four sixes. Mohammad Amir was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming 2-13, while Haris Rauf added to his tally of T20 international wickets, taking 2-26.

In response, Pakistan chased down the target in 17.3 overs, finishing at 107-3. Rizwan and Babar Azam laid a solid foundation with a 63-run partnership for the second wicket. Babar was dismissed for 33 by Dilon Heyliger, who ended with figures of 2-18. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 53, guiding Pakistan to victory, with Usman Khan hitting the winning runs with 15 balls to spare.

Pakistan’s victory was a relief after their disappointing start to the tournament, including a shock defeat to co-hosts the United States and a narrow loss to India. With this win, Pakistan must now beat Ireland in their final group match in Florida and improve their net run-rate to have a chance of qualifying for the Super 8s.

Despite the defeat, Canada still has a slim chance of qualifying if they can pull off an upset against India in their final group match. Canada’s Aaron Johnson showed his quality with a fighting half-century, but the team’s overall performance fell short against Pakistan’s experienced bowling attack.

Pakistan’s limited-overs coach Gary Kirsten expressed the importance of the win, acknowledging the pressure the team faced coming into the match. The victory was crucial not only for their qualification hopes but also to restore confidence within the squad.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam emphasized the need for a similar approach in their final group game against Ireland, highlighting the improved conditions expected in Florida, which should favor both teams.

Player of the match Mohammad Amir credited his clear game plan for his successful bowling performance and expressed optimism for Pakistan’s chances, stating, “One more win and who knows?”

Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar acknowledged the challenges posed by the pitch and the difficulty of losing the toss, noting that a higher score could have made the game more competitive.

The win marks a significant turnaround for Pakistan as they look to secure their place in the Super 8s, a goal that now hinges on their performance against Ireland and other group results.