NEW DELHI: USA captain Monank Patel has expressed confidence in his team's fearless approach as they prepare to face heavyweight Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024.
With a focus on tackling Pakistan's experienced bowler Mohammad Amir and the formidable Babar Azam, Patel believes his side can continue their winning campaign.
The USA's victory against Canada in their opening game showcased their potential, as they turned a seemingly hopeless situation into a convincing triumph.
This win, coupled with their recent 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh, has bolstered the team's confidence. Having played Canada at the same venue, the USA team has the advantage of familiarity with the setting.
Patel highlighted the boost in confidence from their seven-wicket victory against Canada, which he believes will be crucial when they face Pakistan at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday. He also emphasized the need to handle Mohammad Amir, who returned from retirement earlier this year.
"The first game definitely helped us. We got good momentum. We will make sure that we carry forward that momentum in the next game. Pakistan is a good side, is a well-experienced side and we will make sure that we play the cricket we have been playing. Pakistan has good experienced bowlers. We will focus on Mohammad Amir, who is an experienced Pakistani bowler, we will try to tackle him well," Patel said in a pre-match press conference.
Patel also noted the significance of Babar Azam's wicket. The Pakistan captain is renowned in all formats, particularly in T20Is where he has amassed 4023 runs in 112 innings. This match marks the first time Pakistan and the USA will face each other in T20I cricket.
"Babar is a great batsman in all the formats. He is the main player and he is the captain. If he plays long innings, we have seen in the past also. So yeah, his wicket will be really important for us and we all know his stats. He's been very consistent in T20s," Patel added.
Despite the formidable opposition, Patel emphasized that his team is focused on their own game rather than being overly concerned with the Men in Green.
"I mean, we won't focus much on the Pakistan side. We want to focus on our own cricket. And we want to make sure that we continue playing the way we've been playing. And you know, it's T20. Once we have a good 30-40 minutes on the field, you never know. We can take the game away," he stated.
As the USA prepare for their clash with Pakistan, Patel's confidence in his team's approach and their ability to execute their game plan will be key factors in their quest for success in the tournament.
(With inputs from ANI)
