Pakistan's Farhan Vows "Different Mindset" for High-Stakes India T20 WC Clash

Now, Pakistan will face India in their next group-stage fixture on 15 February, and Farhan stressed that his team is ready to bring a 'different mindset' this time.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, Farhan remains focused on the team's next challenge against India in the group-stage fixture. He said, "When you win two matches and are at the top of the table, you feel confident. The upcoming match is not such a big deal; we're not playing against them for the first time. We've played before, and this time we'll play with a different mindset," according to the ICC.

Farhan's 73 off 41 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes, laid the foundation for Pakistan's competitive total of 190/9, while Shadab Khan's all-round performance ensured a comprehensive victory against the USA.

Farhan highlighted the significance of the target, saying, "The pitch was amazing, but making 190 on such a pitch was also a big deal. As you have seen over the last 5-6 months, we have been comfortably making 190-200 runs. We have put a lot of effort into it."

He added that teamwork played a crucial role in maximising opportunities on the field and said, "After the first over, I told Saim that you have to utilise the circle, just like I did. So 190, definitely in terms of this pitch, was very good."

Put into bat, Pakistan started aggressively with openers Saim Ayub and Farhan taking the score past the 50-mark in the fifth over. The USA fought back through Shadley van Schalkwyk, who provided early breakthroughs by dismissing Ayub and captain Salman Agha, leaving Pakistan at 56/2 at the end of the powerplay.

Farhan then rebuilt the innings alongside Babar Azam, forging an 81-run partnership through smart batting and sharp running between the wickets. While Azam fell for 46, Farhan's blistering fifty marked his first half-century in the T20 World Cups. Shadab Khan's cameo of 30 off 12 balls helped Pakistan accelerate towards a challenging total, even as the tail lost five wickets in the final overs to finish at 190/9.

Chasing 191, the USA began positively, with their openers adding 42 runs during the powerplay. However, Mohammad Nawaz broke the partnership early, and Shadab Khan's double strike, including a crucial catch of skipper Monank Patel off his own bowling, tilted the game in Pakistan's favour. Usman Tariq's three-wicket haul, including two wickets in consecutive deliveries, ensured the USA could not recover. Despite a resilient 51 from Shubham Ranjane and 49 from Shayan Jahangir, Pakistan's bowlers held firm to seal a 32-run win.

Reacting to the question if the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash is going to be one-sided, Farhan said, "We didn't play a one-sided match till the end, and hopefully this time again we'll play a wonderful game."

Reflecting on his personal form and confidence against India, Farhan said, "I think when you make runs, you are confident. I am also very confident, and the way the last two innings have gone, I'm very confident. It's a normal match. We'll play like a normal match. We won't put it in our head that this is an India-Pakistan match; it is a normal match, and we will play it like a normal match."

With this victory, Pakistan are at the top of Group A with four points from two wins. Now, they face a challenging fixture against India on Sunday.

Brief score: Pakistan 190/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 73, Babar Azam 46; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4/25) Vs USA 158/8 in 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 51, Shayan Jahangir 49; Usman Tariq 3/27).

- ANI