Key events
Pakistan XI
Pakistan XI: Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf.
Looks like Rizwan will take the gloves, and Azam Khan plays as a specialist batter. Poor kid has so much abuse that he ended up disabling his instagram and deleting all his photos.
USA XI
One change: slow left armer Nostush Kenjige comes in
USA XI: Monank Patel (c, wk), Steven Taylor, Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan.
USA win the toss and will bowl!
Monank Patel makes the most of Babar Azam calling wrongly and USA will field first on a day of hot sunchine and blue skies.
“Chasing here is easier,” he says. “The way we chased down total was entertaining. Have momentum, want to continue that. I’m excited for this challenge.”
Babar would have done the same.
And while we wait for the toss, happy birthday Pakistan umpiring legend Aleem Dar!
🏆 Won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC umpire of the year from 2009-2011
🥇 Most matches as an umpire in men’s ODIs and Tests
🥇 Officiated in 453 international matches
⭐ Former member of the ICC Elite Panel of UmpiresHappy birthday, Aleem Dar! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/iiOP5MCazU
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 6, 2024
Weather watch
According to the forecasters, it is currently 27 degrees C down in Dallas, rising to 34 degrees by mid-afternoon. A light breeze to kiss your neck. I wonder what are they serving for snacks in the stadium – if you are there, please settle my curiosity: [email protected]
Here is Andy Bull’s take on the opening game at the Grand Prairie Stadium.
Preamble
Hello! If Dallas to you spells JR and Sue Ellen, congratulations. Pin the tail on the donkey and pass the Tizer – you’re as old as me. Today, however., it spells cricket: hosting the third of four World Cup games in the city, between USA and Pakistan in the tantalising group A.
Unlike in New York, the pitch at the Grand Prairie cricket stadium has been decent – offering runs to the batters and carry and bounce to the bowlers. Pakistan, who play their first game of the competition, have had their warm-up troubles – rain in England, rain in Dallas, injury to Imad Wasim and controversy over the wicketkeeping position. In trying to bring runs to the late-middle order they slotted PSL Imtiaz Ahmed award winner Azam Khan into the gloves, with fairly hapless results in final ODI at The Oval. It remains to be see whether Mohammad Rizwan, a far neater, more acrobatic keeper, takes them back.
USA are buzzing on the back of their thrashing of Canada in the opening game of the tournament, thanks largely to Aaron Jones 94 not out off 40 balls. The US (four wins out of five) actually have a better recent record than Pakistan (two wins out of five) so despite Pakistan being the odds-on-favourite, this is the kind of seaweed they sometimes slip up on.
Play starts at 4.30pm BST. See you here.
