In their third match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam chose to bowl first after winning the toss against Canada on Tuesday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
The early start time and a pitch that had a “bit of grass,” as Azam observed before the toss, had an impact on the choice.
Saim Ayub, a youthful player, has replaced Iftikhar Ahmed at the top of the order in Pakistan’s playing XI as a strategic move. Ayub, who briefly served as an opener earlier this year, will have another chance to distinguish himself with Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, two seasoned players.
Despite losing the toss, Canada’s captain, Saad Bin Zafar, showed confidence and said he would have also chosen to bowl first.
As Zafar put it, “If we can put a good score on the board, we back ourselves to defend it,” he demonstrated the team’s ability to adjust and succeed.
All eyes will be on both teams’ performance as they prepare for this important match. While Canada will concentrate on creating a difficult target to test their opponents, Pakistan will try to take advantage of the conditions early on with their smart modifications and potent bowling lineup.
