Pakistan were humbled by USA in the recently held T20 World Cup.
After the first-round exit in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in the recently-concluded Rawalpindi Test.
Amid the debacles, former pacer Mohammad Asif has a made a bold prediction for the Pakistan team going forward.
Asif believes the USA cricket team will beat Pakistan in the next edition of the T20 World Cup, replicating the feat that was achieved two months back.
“We lost to the USA, who are playing in the T20 World Cup for the first time. They didn’t even qualify, they played because they were the hosts. The way the situation is going at this moment, the USA will beat Pakistan in the next World Cup, in 2026. I’ll guarantee you that,” Asif said on the YouTube podcast called ‘The Nakash Khan Show’.
Babar Azam and his men were humbled by debutant USA in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener at Dallas on June 6.
In a nail-biting encounter, both teams finished with an identical score of 109, necessitating the one-over eliminator, where the Men in Green conceded 18 runs.
The Men in Green tried their best with the bat in the Super Over but USA’s left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar held his nerves to restrict them to just 13.
The loss at the hands of USA proved to the decisive blow as the 2009 champions were knocked out of the tournament at the group-stage.
According to Asif, Pakistan would have to bring in changes right from the top if they are to avoid embarrassment in the future.
“Before the 2026 World Cup, we have to change the captain, coach and the players. There needs to be planning for the two years that this is the team, this is the 20 players we want to work with. But we are repeating the same things, which is why I am telling you this,” Asif remarked.
“When the likes of India, and South Africa are moving forward in the next two years, we are still in the same spot,” he added.
Having lost the first Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan are in danger of losing another home series. Shan Masood and company will look to salvage their pride in the second and final Test against Bangladesh, due to start on August 30 in Rawalpindi.