The Pakistan national cricket team is scheduled to face the United States of America (USA) on February 10 in their second fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026. This encounter follows a strenuous and narrow victory against the Netherlands where Pakistan's batting vulnerabilities were prominently exposed. The team management is currently under significant pressure to address the lack of aggression in the top order. Central to this discussion is the batting approach of veteran opener Babar Azam whose scoring rate has become a subject of intense debate among cricket experts and analysts.
Analysis of Babar Azam's Batting Tempo and Strike Rate
Despite being one of the highest run-getters in T20 international history Babar Azam's strike rate remains a point of contention for the Pakistani side. In the previous match against the Netherlands his inability to accelerate during the powerplay phases put immense pressure on the subsequent batsmen, while according to technical analysts Babar's traditional batting style often mirrors the pace of Test cricket which is increasingly viewed as a liability in the high-octane T20 format. The requirement for a more dynamic start is forcing the management to evaluate whether his current role aligns with the team's strategic objectives for the 2026 World Cup.
Middle-Order Vulnerabilities and Potential Inclusion of Fakhar Zaman
The struggle wasn't limited to the openers as the middle order including Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, and Captain Salman Ali Agha failed to provide the necessary impetus in the first game, while to rectify this Pakistan is reportedly considering the inclusion of Fakhar Zaman in the Playing XI for the USA clash. Fakhar is recognized for his explosive batting and ability to take the game away from the opposition in the early overs. His potential return might necessitate a reshuffle in the batting order potentially pushing Babar Azam to a different position or leading to a more radical change in the team composition to ensure a higher collective strike rate.
USA Bowling Strength: Lessons from the India Encounter
The United States team enters this match with growing confidence after a disciplined bowling performance against India. The American bowlers demonstrated their ability to restrict world-class hitters making it difficult for the Indian lineup to score freely, while analysts suggest that the USA bowling attack which utilizes variations effectively could pose a serious threat to a struggling Pakistani batting unit. If the Pakistani openers fail to negotiate the initial overs with caution and intent the USA side possesses the tactical depth to create an upset in this group stage encounter.
Probable Playing XI and Tactical Adjustments for Pakistan
As per cricketing experts Pakistan needs to find a balance between stability and aggression, while the probable Playing XI for the match against USA is expected to include Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed. The focus will be on whether the management decides to bench underperforming seniors in favor of tactical flexibility. This match is crucial for Pakistan to secure two points and improve their Net Run Rate which could be a deciding factor in the later stages of the tournament.