Colombo, February 11: In a thrilling match of the T20 World Cup 2026 held on Tuesday in Colombo, Pakistan secured a 32-run victory against the USA. The match showcased the pivotal role of Pakistan’s spin bowlers, who delivered 80 percent of the overs bowled.
Despite expectations that captain Salman Ali Agha would utilize more fast bowlers, only Shaheen Afridi was given the opportunity to bowl four overs. The remaining 16 overs were bowled exclusively by spinners, a strategy that ultimately led to Pakistan’s success.
The spin attack featured Saeem Ayub with 1 wicket, Abrar Ahmed with 4, Mohammad Nawaz with 3, Shadab Khan with 4, and Usman Tariq with 4 overs bowled. Notably, Faheem Ashraf, a fast bowler, did not bowl during the match.
Usman Tariq took 3 wickets, Shadab Khan took 2, while Abrar and Nawaz each claimed 1 wicket, contributing to Pakistan’s win over the USA. This match marked the second instance in T20 history where Pakistan bowled the majority of overs (16) by spinners, the first being in 2012 against Australia, where they bowled 18 out of 20 overs with spin.
In previous matches, Pakistan has also relied heavily on spin, with 15 overs bowled by spinners against South Africa in 2012, West Indies in 2013, England in 2021, and Afghanistan in 2023.
In the match against the USA, after losing the toss, Pakistan batted first and scored 190 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. The USA managed to score 158 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs, resulting in a 32-run defeat.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.