In a stunning tactical shift at the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, Pakistan crushed the USA by 32 runs, relying almost entirely on their spinners. Captain Salman Ali Agha made a bold call, handing the ball to spinners for a whopping 16 out of 20 overs, sidelining most of his pace attack except for Shaheen Afridi’s four overs.
Pakistan posted a formidable 190 for 9 after losing the toss. The USA managed only 158 for 8 in response, falling short despite a gritty effort. The spin-heavy strategy paid off handsomely, with spinners claiming all key wickets.
Saim Ayub bowled one over, Abrar Ahmad four, Mohammad Nawaz three, Shadab Khan four, and Usman Tariq four. Usman Tariq starred with three wickets, Shadab grabbed two, while Abrar and Nawaz chipped in with one each. Notably, pacer Faheem Ashraf warmed the bench without bowling a single delivery.
This marks the second time in T20 history Pakistan leaned so heavily on spin, the first being 18 overs against Australia in Colombo back in 2012. They’ve flirted with similar approaches before: 15 overs against South Africa in Colombo (2012), West Indies in Kingston (2013), England in Manchester (2021), and Afghanistan in Hangzhou (2023).
Agha’s gamble exposed a potential lack of faith in his fast bowlers on this pitch, raising eyebrows about Pakistan’s pace resources. Yet, the victory keeps their campaign alive, showcasing spin as their new weapon in the shortest format.