At the start of the T20 World Cup, who would have thought that Pakistan vs Canada would be bigger than the India vs Pakistan match? But here we stand. Even a slight slip for Babar Azam and Co. would mean that they’d have to pack their bags and return to Pakistan after their match with Ireland in Florida on June 16. They won’t just be fighting just Canada, but the expectations of fans, the PCB, and most importantly, the pitch at the Nassau Cricket Stadium.
Pitch Im-perfect
People may think that their batters crumbled under the pressure against India, but truly, it was a pitch where even taking singles wasn’t an easy endeavor. Rishabh Pant, who was the match’s highest-run scorer, had a control percentage of 50. That means, of the 31 balls he faced, he wasn’t in control for about 15. He edged, mistimed the ball, and was beaten multiple times in his inning of 42.
Pakistan’s best batter of the day, Mohammad Rizwan, ended with a strike rate of 70. None of their batters, barring Rizwan, were able to cross the 15-run mark, and it was the same case for India, as none of their batters, barring Pant, crossed 20. But it wasn’t just the India vs Pakistan match; this has been the case for all the matches that have been played at the Nassau Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan Cricket
Closing the gap
In the six matches played, the average first-inning score is 108 in New York, and bowlers, especially pacers, are running wild. Every wicket is falling for just 15 runs, which means each side is losing at least 7 wickets an inning. That is the average of both stronger teams like India and South Africa, but ‘weaker’ teams like Ireland and Canada have done well as well.
All the difficult pitch is doing is decreasing the difference between the sides. More talented sides who have better batting and bowling are struggling due to the tough conditions in Nassau, while weaker teams, who have more holes, are doing better. One can make the case that because of that, Pakistan got closer to victory against India, and otherwise, they would have been handsomely outplayed.
The same goes for Canada, which beat Ireland, who have made multiple T20 World Cups and just beat Pakistan last month. So, the Men in Green will have to be their best against the Maple Leafers, or they’ll be 0-3 and out of the mega-event after just 12 days.
