Fast bowler Ehsan Adil is set to make his international debut for the USA against Pakistan, the country he previously represented, in Colombo on Tuesday.
Adil was approved as a replacement for the injured Jasdeep Singh late on Monday and has been drafted straight into the playing XI, coming in for Ali Khan, who suffered a groin injury in the match against India.
The 32-year-old featured in three Tests and five ODIs for Pakistan between 2013 and 2015 before relocating to the United States. Since then, he has been a regular in Major League Cricket, playing the first three seasons for MI New York. He will get an early chance with the ball after USA captain Monank Patel won the toss and elected to bowl first, in the first match played under the Sinhalese Sports Club’s new floodlights.
USA made one more change from the side that pushed India close in Mumbai, with Shayan Jahangir replacing Saiteja Mukkamalla at the top of the order. Shubham Ranjane has been declared fit after limping off during the India game and later batting on one leg.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have bolstered their bowling attack with additional spin. Unorthodox off-spinner Usman Tariq replaces left-arm seamer Salman Mirza in the only change from the side that edged past the Netherlands in their opening fixture.
“We wanted to give Usman a game,” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said. “He’s a match-winner and a trump card for us, so we want to use him.”
The two teams have met just once before in T20Is, when the USA pulled off a famous Super Over victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Monank Patel said his side would draw confidence from that historic encounter.
“We had a great game the first time we played Pakistan, and the way we performed was encouraging,” Monank said. “We want to take confidence and motivation from that match and do well again.”
