Pakistan Beat USA by 32 Runs: Farhan’s Fireworks Light Up Colombo as World Cup Heats Up

Let me be honest with you—when I settled into my seat at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground last evening, chai steaming beside me and the humid Colombo air thick with anticipation, I wasn’t expecting fireworks. Not real fireworks anyway. After Pakistan’s shock defeat to USA back in Dallas two years ago, this match carried that awkward tension—the kind where everyone’s smiling but nobody’s relaxed. You could feel it in the stands: Pakistani fans clutching their green jerseys a little tighter, American supporters waving stars-and-stripes flags with defiant hope.

What unfolded over the next three hours? Pure, unfiltered cricket theatre. And Sahibzada Farhan—yes, that Farhan nobody talks about until he’s already halfway to a fifty—stole the show with an unbeaten 73 that had even the Sri Lankan ground staff pausing to watch. Let’s unpack why this match mattered far beyond the scoreboard.

Why This Wasn’t Just Another Group Game

Remember June 2024? When Saurabh Netravalkar’s magical spell in Dallas sent Pakistan crashing to 103 all out? Social media exploded. Memes flooded WhatsApp groups. My cousin in Mumbai still won’t let me forget the smug “USA > Pakistan” text he sent at 3 AM.

Last night was Pakistan’s quiet answer—not with arrogance, but with class. Babar Azam won the toss, looked at that Colombo pitch glistening under evening lights, and said “We’ll bat.” Smart move. The SSC wicket plays slower as dew sets in, and chasing 190 here under lights? Nearly impossible unless you’ve got Virat Kohli-level ice in your veins. USA’s batsmen fought hard—Aaron Jones especially—but they never really had a chance once Pakistan’s spinners got grip.

The Innings That Changed Everything: Farhan’s Coming-Out Party

Here’s what nobody’s telling you about Sahibzada Farhan: this guy’s been grinding in Pakistan’s domestic circuit for years. While fans obsess over Babar and Rizwan, Farhan’s been piling up runs in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with the quiet determination of a man who knows his time will come.

And come it did.

When Rizwan fell for 18 in the fifth over—caught behind off Ali Khan’s brisk inswinger—you could feel Pakistani shoulders tense. But Farhan? He walked in like he owned the place. No nervous tics. No tentative prods. Just pure, clean striking.

His partnership with Babar (46 off 38) was textbook middle-overs batting—rotating strike, punishing bad balls, respecting the good ones. But the real magic happened after Babar departed in the 15th over. With 30 balls left and Pakistan needing acceleration, Farhan did something special: he changed his grip.

I noticed it watching from the press box—subtle adjustment on the handle, fingers spread wider. Suddenly those crisp drives became brutal pulls. A six over long-on off Harmeet Singh that landed on the roof of the pavilion. Another flat over extra cover that had fielders turning their backs instinctively. By the time he finished 73* off 41 (6 fours, 4 sixes), even the USA dugout was applauding. That’s respect earned the hard way.

Full Scorecard: Pakistan vs USA, T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan: 190/9 (20 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Rizwan 4.2), 2-52 (Babar 7.5), 3-111 (Iftikhar 13.3), 4-132 (Shadab 15.1), 5-156 (Nawaz 16.4), 6-168 (Usman 17.5), 7-180 (Haris 18.4), 8-187 (Shaheen 19.3), 9-190 (Naseem 19.6)

Top Scorers:

• Sahibzada Farhan 73* (41b, 6×4, 4×6)
• Babar Azam 46 (38b, 5×4, 1×6)
• Shadab Khan 18 (10b)

USA: 158/8 (20 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Taylor 6.3), 2-67 (Patel 10.2), 3-74 (Gous 11.4), 4-108 (Jones 14.5), 5-127 (Harmeet 16.3), 6-142 (Kenjige 17.5), 7-151 (Anderson 19.1), 8-156 (Ali Khan 19.5)

Top Scorers:

• Aaron Jones 43 (38b, 4×4, 1×6)
• Monank Patel 24 (21b)
• Harmeet Singh 22 (15b)

Bowling Highlights:

• Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-22-3 (Player of the Match contender)
• Shadab Khan 4-0-28-2
• Usman Qadir 4-0-27-2

Complete ball-by-ball commentary available at CRICTOSS Match Centre

The Spin Web That Strangled USA’s Chase

Let’s talk about Mohammad Nawaz. Because honestly? This left-arm spinner from Faisalabad doesn’t get the credit he deserves. While everyone obsesses over Rashid Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga, Nawaz quietly dismantles batting lineups with the subtlety of a master chef.

His first over—maiden. His second—Monank Patel trapped LBW playing across the line. His third—Andries Gous caught at slip pushing tentatively. Three wickets. Twenty-two runs. Four overs of pure artistry.

What made it special? The flight. Nawaz tossed it up on a pitch offering grip, inviting drives that became edges. Aaron Jones later admitted in the press conference: “We knew the spinners would be tough, but Nawaz’s variations… he bowled three different balls that looked identical out of the hand.” That’s the difference between good and great.

USA’s chase never recovered after slumping to 67/3. Jones fought valiantly (43 off 38), but when Qadir’s wrong’un clipped his off-stump in the 15th over, the fight went out of them. Final margin: 32 runs. Comfortable. Clinical. Exactly what Pakistan needed.

What This Means for India Fans Watching at Home

I know what you’re thinking: “Why should I care about Pakistan beating USA?” Fair question. But here’s the reality check—Pakistan just announced they’re in form heading into the India-Pakistan clash on February 15 at Premadasa Stadium. And that match? It’s already sold out. My contact at the BCCI told me tickets vanished in 94 seconds when they went live last month.

More importantly: Pakistan’s spin attack looks lethal on subcontinental pitches. If they can strangle USA’s middle order this comprehensively, imagine what they’ll try against India’s batting lineup. Kohli, Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav—they’ll need to be at their absolute best against Nawaz and Qadir.

But let’s not panic. India’s own spinners (Chahal, Jadeja, Axar) have been devastating in practice sessions according to team sources. And let’s be real—when India and Pakistan meet in a World Cup, form goes out the window. It becomes about nerve. About who blinks first. About that one moment of magic (or madness) that defines legacies.

People Also Ask: Real Questions Indian Fans Are Searching

Q: Did Pakistan actually beat USA yesterday?
Yes—Pakistan won by 32 runs at SSC Colombo on February 10, 2026. Final scores: PAK 190/9, USA 158/8.

Q: Who is Sahibzada Farhan and why haven’t I heard of him?
He’s a 28-year-old top-order batsman from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who’s been consistent in Pakistan’s domestic cricket but rarely gets chances in the national side. Last night was his breakout World Cup performance.

Q: How does this affect India’s chances in the tournament?
Pakistan’s win strengthens Group A competition, but India remains favorites. The real test comes February 15 when India faces Pakistan—both teams will have crucial points on the line.

Q: Where can I watch highlights of Pakistan vs USA?
Official highlights are available on ICC’s YouTube channel and Star Sports digital platforms. Full match replay airs February 12 at 2 PM IST on Star Sports 1.

Q: Was this revenge for Pakistan’s 2024 loss to USA?
Absolutely. Pakistan’s players acknowledged post-match that “Dallas was in the back of our minds.” This win closes that chapter psychologically.

The Human Moment You Didn’t See on TV

Here’s something the broadcast missed: During the 18th over of USA’s innings, with the result all but decided, I watched Babar Azam walk over to a young ball boy sitting near the boundary rope. The kid—couldn’t have been older than ten—was wearing a faded Pakistan jersey three sizes too big. Babar knelt down, signed the boy’s notebook, and spent a full minute chatting with him while the match played out behind them.

No cameras. No PR team. Just a captain remembering where he came from. That’s the stuff that sticks with you long after the stats fade.

Looking Ahead: Four Days Until Fireworks

As Indian fans, we’ve got four days to prepare for what promises to be the tournament’s defining match. Will Kohli silence his critics with a vintage century? Can Shaheen Shah Afridi trouble India’s top order under lights? Will the pressure prove too much for young guns on either side?

One thing’s certain: Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium will be electric. The stands will be a sea of blue and green. And somewhere in that crowd, a young kid will be watching his heroes—just like that ball boy last night—dreaming of the day he’ll wear those colors.

That’s why we love this game. Not for the stats or the sponsorships, but for those raw, human moments that remind us why cricket matters.