The hosts United States of America (USA) Thursday won the toss and put Pakistan into the bat in their Group A clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Dallas.

USA captain Monak Patel said chasing at this venue is easier.

"The way we chased down total was entertaining. We have momentum, want to continue that.”

He said they were excited about this challenge.

Pakistan have opted for four pacers as Babar Azam likened this to "Test match conditions" and said he would've loved to bowl first as well.

"Good to see the sun is out, last 3-4 days, haven't seen the sunshine. We're playing four quicks," said the Pakistan captain.

Pakistan chose Muhammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah to spearhead their bowling attack. Out-of-form Shadab Khan will lead the spin department with Iftikhar Ahmed another spin option for the team.

Babar and Muhammad Rizwan will open for Pakistan followed by Usman Khan and Fakhar Zaman. Azam Khan will keep the wickets despite a horror show in the last match against England.

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf

USA: Steven Taylor, Monank Patel (capt, wk), Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan

The national team will play its first match of the ICC T20 World Cup today against host USA.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the match between Pakistan and the USA will take place in Dallas and is scheduled to start at 8:30 PM.
Babar Azam is leading the Pakistan team for the third consecutive T20 World Cup.
Pakistani player Imad Wasim will not be available against the USA due to fitness issues.
Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saeem Ayub, and Usman Khan are making their T20 World Cup debut in this tournament.

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir stated that ICC events are always a big challenge, and while the weather is beyond their control, the team is prepared for all situations.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, he addressed a press conference, expressed hope for good performances and emphasised their goal to win every match.
Amir praised the capabilities of Shadab Khan and Babar Azam and stated that no one doubts their abilities and that they can single-handedly win matches on their day.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi Thursday took strict notice of the Pakistan cricket team's accommodation at a distant hotel in New York (NY) from the T20 World Cup administration and arranged for a change to a hotel only a 5-minute drive from the stadium where matches will be played.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, Mohsin Naqvi contacted the ICC and convinced the event organizers to change the hotel for the Pakistan team.
Sources said that the original hotel for the Pakistani team was a 90-minute drive from the stadium while the new hotel is now only a 5-minute drive away.

Babar Azam will be hoping it is third time lucky for him when he captains Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which started in the United States and Caribbean on 1 June. The 2009 champions will kick-start their journey in the 2024 event on Thursday against hosts United States at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, with the first ball to be bowled at 10:30am local time (8:30pm Pakistan time).

On 9 June in New York, Pakistan will go head-to-head with traditional rivals India before taking on Canada at the same venue on 11 June. Their final first-round match will be against Ireland on 16 June in Florida. If Pakistan qualifies for the Super-Eight stage, their three matches will be in Antigua and Barbados from 19 to 23 June.

Babar was the captain when Pakistan won five straight matches before narrowly losing to Australia in the second semi-final of the 2021 event in the United Arab Emirates after the eventual champions needed 50 runs in the last four overs.

Babar, the No. 4 batter in the world, was again at the helm when Pakistan lost to England in the 2022 final in Melbourne after Jos Buttler’s side had slipped to 45 for three, then 84 for four and finally 132 for five before achieving the 138-run target with six balls and five wickets to spare.

Apart from Babar, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi were involved in the 2022 tournament. The side has been strengthened with the return of Mohammad Amir (also a member of the 2009 winning squad) and Imad Wasim, who last played in a T20 World Cup in 2016 and 2021, respectively. Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Usman Khan are the five players who will be appearing at this level for the first time.

However, Imad Wasim will not be available for selection for Thursday’s match as he has been advised rest by the PCB Medical Team. Ahead of the fourth T20I against England late last month, Imad had experienced discomfort in his right rib cage while batting in the nets and consequently missed the match. He is expected to be available for selection for the 9 June match against India in New York.

Coincidentally, Pakistan’s T20 World Cup success in 2009 at Lord’s under Younis Khan came after Pakistan had lost the previous T20 World Cup final to India by five runs in Johannesburg.

Pakistan has one of the most impressive records in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007 in South Africa. Besides winning the 2009 event, it has reached the finals in 2007 and 2022, and featured in semifinals in 2010, 2012, and 2021.

In 47 matches Pakistan has played to date in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, it has won 28 with a success percentage of 60.63. Only India (63.95), South Africa (62.5), and Australia (62.5) have better success percentages than Pakistan among the Test-playing nations.

SQUAD: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan

Rohit Sharma surpassed 4,000 runs in T20Is during India’s T20 World Cup 2024 match against Ireland in New York on Wednesday.

The Indian captain reached this milestone in his 144th innings and is only the third batter, after Virat Kohli (4038), to achieve this feat. Babar Azam (4023) is the only other batter apart from the two Indians, to have crossed the 4,000-run barrier.

Throughout his career, Rohit has scored five centuries, and 30 half-centuries, and boasts a career-best of an unbeaten 121.

Most Runs in T20Is

Virat Kohli: 4038

Rohit Sharma: 4026

Babar Azam: 4023

Rohit Sharma made 52 before retiring hurt as India overwhelmed Ireland by eight wickets in the teams' T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday.

India only required 97 to win after a dominant display by their attack, with left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh striking twice in the third over to reduce Ireland to 9-2 after Rohit won the toss.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya took two wickets in two balls on his way to 3-27 and Jasprit Bumrah, the player of the match, 2-6.

Ireland needed to hold every chance that came their way to have any chance of a shock upset. But off the last ball of the first over of the chase, India captain Rohit -- on two -- edged Mark Adair through the hands of Andrew Balbirnie at second slip. Rohit punished Ireland with a 37-ball innings, including four fours and three well-struck sixes as he shared a stand of 54 with Rishabh Pant.

The wicketkeeper, returning to international cricket after a horror car crash in December 2022, finished on 36 not out and ended the match with a typically flamboyant reverse-scooped six off Barry McCarthy as India won with more than seven overs left. Rohit was not there alongside him, however, having been previously struck on the arm by Josh Little, although he struck the two balls he faced immediately afterwards from the paceman for resounding sixes.

Star batsman Virat Kohli fell for just one, slicing Adair to deep third man, but it made little difference to India, bidding to win a major tournament since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph.

Ireland posted a 97-run target for India in the second Group A match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 at New York's Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

India have won the toss and skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first. He said they had played on a similar pitch against Bangladesh and do understand what to expect and will use their experience.

Indian captain Sharma said they had played on a similar pitch against Bangladesh and do understand what to expect and will use their experience.

India have picked four seamers including Hardik Pandya, two spin bowling allrounders in Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. Sanju Samson, Jaiswal, Kuldeep and Chahal miss out.

Squads:

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Ben White

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

India have won the toss and captain Rohit Sharma has opted to bowl first against Ireland in second Group A match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 at New York's Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

Indian captain Sharma said they had played on a similar pitch against Bangladesh and do understand what to expect and will use their experience.

India have picked four seamers including Hardik Pandya, two spin bowling allrounders in Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. Sanju Samson, Jaiswal, Kuldeep and Chahal miss out.

Ireland captain Paul Stirling said: "Got plenty of match winners, today's a perfect occasion for them to show up. We've got three seamers and two spinners, couple of allrounders in there."

Squads:

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Ben White

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj