Last Updated on 2 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Pakistan will lock horns against the USA in what could be an intriguing 12th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Sinhalese Sports Stadium, Colombo, will host this game on 10th February 2026 at 7 PM IST. 

Pakistan received a lot of heat after they lost to the USA in the last T20 World Cup. Things have changed now, but considering how Pakistan played against the Netherlands and how the USA played against India, this won’t be an easy ask for Pakistan. 

Their middle order was exposed in the last game. Sahibzada Farhan (47 runs) was their best batter, but then batting depth came to their rescue as Faheem Ashraf (29* runs) saw his side over the line. Saim Ayub also got off to a good start, while Salman Agha looked in great touch. 

Bowling-wise, the spinners did a good job, while Shaheen Afridi will have to pull up his socks for this match. Babar Azam’s form is a concern too. 

Meanwhile, the USA, at one point, had India at 77/6. Suryakumar Yadav and India’s bowlers were too strong as the USA eventually lost the game by 29 runs. Shadley van Schalwyk bowled well and picked up four wickets, and will be key again today given some injury concerns in the USA squad. Milind Kumar (34 runs), Shubham Ranjane (37 runs), and Sanjay Krishmurthi (37 runs) contributed in batting. 

The USA must exploit the powerplay fully while batting to do a double on Pakistan. Saurabh Netravalkar went wicketless in the last game but he’s the lead pacer for his team. Their spin attack is also good with Mohsin and Harmeet in their ranks.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 12th Match: PAK vs USA Probable Playing XIs

Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Salman Agha (c), 4. Babar Azam, , 5. Usman Khan (wk), 6. Shadab Khan, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Shaheen Afridi, 10. Salman Mize, 11. Abrar Ahmed

Ali Khan is in serious doubt for this match due to a leg injury. Shubham Ranjane also has an injury concern but could line up in this game.

USA: 1. Andries Gous (wk), 2. Saiteja Mukkamalla, 3. Monank Patel (c), 4. Milind Kumar, 5. Sanjay Krishnamurthi, 6. Shubham Ranjane, 7. Harmeet Singh, 8. Mohammad Mohsin, 9. Shadley van Schalkwyk, 10. Ehsan Adil/Ali Khan, 11. Saurabh Netravalkar

Sinhalese Sports Stadium (SSC) Colombo Pitch Report and Weather

Oman were bowled out for 103 runs in the last game played at this venue. There was movement for the pacers with the new ball, and they found extra bounce off the surface.

This will be the first ever night T20I at this venue, so it remains to be seen whether spinners come into play as the game progresses. The average will be around 150-170 for this game.

It will be a cloudy day with the temperature being around 27 degrees Celsius with 54% humidity at the start of the match.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 12th Match: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Andries Gous will be the best wicketkeeper option for this game. He will open the inning for the USA, looks to attack from the first ball, and can score big on his day. Gous has experience of playing T20 leagues around the globe, and he’ll be a must in your fantasy teams.

Key batter picks: 

• Salman Ali Agha was in exceptional form in the last T20I series against Australia. He’s looking positive on the crease and is playing his shots freely. Agha also looked in good touch against the Netherlands. He will be a good C/VC choice. 
• Sahibzada Farhan exploits the field restrictions. He scored 47 runs in the first game against the Dutch. Farhan can score big if he gets going and he’ll be worth picking for this game. 

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Saim Ayub will bowl 3-4 overs, and he’s got this knack for picking up wickets. He will open the innings and likes to attack early in his innings. Ayub will fetch points from both bat and ball, which makes him a top captain pick.
• Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets in the first game. He’s a capable batter as well. Nawaz can trouble the USA batters with his bowling. He was in excellent form in the recent series against Australia, where he took a five-for in the final game.
• Shadab Khan has been in good batting form, and he will bowl 3-4 overs as well. He’s another player who will contribute with both bat and ball. Considering his skill set and other factors, Shadab will be a good fantasy pick.
• Shadley van Schalwyk picked up four wickets in the first game against India. He varies his pace nicely and has plenty of options in his arsenal. Conditions should suit Schalwyk’s style of bowling. 
• Shubham Ranjane scored 37 runs against India. He bowled 2 overs as well. Ranjane likes to bat aggressively in the middle order. If fit, he’s someone you can’t miss out on from the USA. 

Key bowler picks: 

• Abrar Ahmed, with his mystery spin, can trouble the USA batters. He’ll fancy his chances in this game, as he has plenty of variations that are difficult to pick as a batter. Abrar is an excellent captain choice.
• Shaheen Afridi has been far from his best lately, but he can bowl in any phase of the innings and is handy with the bat too. 

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

• Salman Mirza
• Usman Khan
• Moonank Patel
• Saurabh Netravalkar

Other Matchups and Facts 

• The USA has won the only T20I between the USA and Pakistan.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 12th Match: PAK vs USA Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 12th Match: PAK vs USA Match Prediction: Who will win?

Considering how the USA played, especially their bowling, against India, one thing is sure: it’s going to be a thriller of a game between Pakistan and the USA. But with team form, quality, and form, Pakistan should win this game.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.