Pakistan(PAK) and Ireland find themselves in that last position, in extremely wet conditions in Lauderhill, Florida. They’ve both been eliminated from the T20 World Cup, and nothing that happens during their final group game on Sunday can change that. But it must be played, weather permitting, and so Pakistan(PAK) and Ireland will gear up for one more fixture that will have no impact on this tournament, and almost certainly no implications on qualification for the next one in 2026.
Pakistan will face Ireland in the 36th game of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, starting at 8:00 PM IST on June 16. There are parties you don’t want to be at, and parties the host doesn’t want you at. And then there are parties no one wants to be at.
PAKISTAN vs IRELAND Previous Performances
For Pakistan, it’s one more day in America before the players return to face the wrath of a nation whose anger has been bubbling up in the days following defeats to the USA and India. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in an impregnable position, and is expected to ring the changes in the coming weeks, with Pakistan’s central contracts also up for review at the end of this month. Babar Azam’s side can do little to change the mood back home, though another defeat won’t help at all.
Both teams were eliminated from the tournament after the USA vs. Ireland match was washed out due to heavy rain. Pakistan needed Ireland to beat the USA to stay in the competition, but the washout sealed their exit. Pakistan’s early exit can be attributed to their defeats against the USA and India in their initial matches, despite being in strong positions to win both games. They now aim to finish the tournament on a high note.
Ireland have also endured a disappointing tournament, especially since the build-up was promising. A home win over Pakistan and victory in a T20 tri-nation series in the Netherlands. But crumpling on a horror pitch in New York against India set the tone for a dismal campaign, with a defeat against Canada the nadir. While their qualification chances were theoretically alive before Lauderhill’s weather washed out their match against the hosts, all that’s left now is the hope that they may end their party in the USA on a high note.
Ireland also lost to India and Canada and required victories over the USA and Pakistan to advance. The washout led to their elimination as well. Having recently defeated Pakistan in a T20I series, Ireland remain hopeful about their chances against Babar Azam’s team.
PAK vs IRE Head to Head
Pakistan 3 – 1 Ireland. The only time the two teams faced each other in a T20 World Cup (in 2009), Pakistan had won by 39 runs. However, recently in a three-match T20I series, Ireland beat them once
| Matches Played | 04 |
| Won by PAK | 03 |
| Won by Ireland | 01 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | 15 June 2009 |
| Most-recent Fixture | 14 May 2024 |
PAK vs IRE Pitch Report
The pitch conditions at the venue in Florida have been favoring the teams batting first. The new ball tends to come onto the bat nicely, allowing for good batting conditions and offering generous seam movement for the bowlers. As the match progresses, the pitch is expected to slow down, assisting the spin bowlers. Therefore, the team that wins the toss will opt to bat first.
The matches in Lauderhill between USA and Ireland on Friday, and India and Canada on Saturday, were both abandoned without a toss because of lots of rain and an extremely wet outfield. The forecast for Sunday is better, however, but it depends on how much rain falls overnight and the state of the outfield in the morning.
It is expected to be cloudy, with the temperature hovering around 30 degree Celsius. However, it remains to be seen what the condition of the outfield is expected to be after the Saturday showers. Historically, the spinners have thrived at the venue more than the pacers.
PAK vs IRE In the spotlight
This is almost certainly Imad Wasim‘s final international match. Controversially brought back into the side, he has failed to provide the stardust Pakistan believed he would bring when they persuaded him to rescind his international retirement. His performances with the ball have been solid, if unspectacular, with no batting contribution of any heft, a point his innings during Pakistan’s chase against India painfully underscored.
His statement before the tournament that “no one remembers semi-finalists and finalists, people remember champions” has aged like milk after Pakistan’s earliest T20 World Cup exit, but at this point, a game to remember as he signs off is the best consolation he can ask for.
Lorcan Tucker scored two half centuries in three games against Pakistan last month, before following up with 40 and 55 in the tri-series against the Netherlands and Scotland. Since then, his runs have dried up as Ireland’s T20 World Cup campaign flamed out before it even got off the ground. He has managed starts in each of the group games, getting into double figures while facing 13 and 15 balls. With no pressure and little to lose, Tucker has the opportunity to rediscover the form he found against Pakistan just a few weeks ago.
PAK vs IRE Vital Stats that matters
- Pakistan have never before been eliminated from a T20 World Cup after just three games
- Ireland have lost four successive completed T20 World Cup games. They have only had one worse run, when they lost six in a row across the 2009, 2010 and 2012 World Cups.
- Ireland batters have collectively registered a staggering 175 single-digit scores (excluding not-outs) in 54 T20Is since January 2022, which is exceeded only by Rwanda (342), Uganda (217) and Tanzania (191) i.e. fourth among the 98 teams.
- Ireland’s top 7 collectively average 21.60 in T20Is since Jan 2022, which is ranked 17th among the 20 participating teams at the T20 WC 2024.
- Lauderhill has hosted just six T20s since 2021, with the sides batting first winning on four instances and chasing team winning twice. Of the six, only one was a night game.
PAK vs IRE Probable Playing 11
Pakistan (PAK):
Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir.
Ireland (IRE):
Paul Stirling (C), Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Craig Young.
PAK vs IRE Fantasy XI : Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Paul Stirling (C),Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, , Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
PAK vs IRE Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter of the match:
Babar Azam is one of the best batters of this format but he has not been able to perform as per the expectations so far in the ongoing mega event. Now that his team has been knocked out of the tournament, he would be eager to showcase his prowess and end the tournament positively.
Probable Best Bowler of the match:
Mohammad Amir has been one of the positives for Pakistan as he has been bowling superbly in the mega event, except for that one super over against the USA. He would be eager to continue his good run with the ball and conclude the tournament on a positive note.
PAK vs IRE Match Prediction
Scenario 1
Pakistan win the toss and opt to bat first
Power Play Score: 45-55
First Innings Score: 155-165
Pakistan win the match
Scenario 2
Ireland win the toss and opt to bat first
Power Play score: 35-45
First Innings Score: 145-155
Pakistan win the match