Cricket is a sport that brings people together, no matter where they’re from or how old they are. It’s a game of strategy, skill, and heart, and when two teams like Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard face off, you know you’re in for a treat. On June 11, 2024, these two teams met in a thrilling match during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This wasn’t just any game—it was a moment where an underdog, Canada, took on a cricketing giant, Pakistan, and showed the world what they’re capable of. In this article, we’ll dive into the excitement of that match, break down the scorecard, and share the story of a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. Whether you’re a cricket newbie or a lifelong fan, this is a story you’ll enjoy.
Setting the Stage: Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in the T20 World Cup
The 2024 T20 World Cup was a big deal for both teams. For Pakistan, a team with a rich cricketing history and a reputation for unpredictable brilliance, it was another chance to shine on the global stage. They’ve won the T20 World Cup before (in 2009) and have a knack for pulling off stunning performances when least expected. Led by captain Babar Azam, Pakistan came into the tournament as one of the favorites, despite a shaky start with losses to the USA and India.
Canada, on the other hand, was the underdog. Cricket isn’t as big in Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, but the team has been making waves in recent years. They earned their spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup by dominating the Americas Regional Qualifier, going unbeaten and showing they could compete with the best. With players like Aaron Johnson and Kaleem Sana leading the charge, Canada was ready to prove they belonged on the big stage.
This match, the 22nd of the tournament, was a Group A clash. Pakistan needed a win to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the Super 8s, while Canada was looking to pull off an upset and make a statement. The stage was set for a classic David vs. Goliath battle.
The Match: A Tale of Grit and Determination
The game was played on a tricky pitch in New York, where scoring runs wasn’t easy. The ball wasn’t coming onto the bat as smoothly as it might on other grounds, which meant both teams had to play smart and stay patient. Canada won the toss and chose to bowl first, a bold move against a strong batting side like Pakistan. Let’s break down how the match unfolded, inning by inning.
Pakistan’s Innings: A Steady but Cautious Effort
Pakistan’s batting lineup is known for its firepower, with players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan capable of taking games away from opponents. But Canada’s bowlers had other plans. They came out swinging, keeping Pakistan’s batsmen in check with tight bowling and clever field placements.
Rizwan and Saim Ayub opened the batting for Pakistan. Canada’s pace attack, led by Kaleem Sana and Jeremy Gordon, made life tough early on. Sana struck first, getting Ayub out for just 6 runs, caught behind after a sharp delivery. Pakistan was 21/1 after 4 overs, and the pressure was on.
Babar Azam, the captain, came in at number three and steadied the ship. He played with his usual class, picking gaps and running hard between the wickets. Rizwan, at the other end, was more cautious, focusing on rotating the strike. Canada’s bowlers, though, didn’t let them get away. Dillon Heyliger and Saad Bin Zafar bowled tight lines, making it hard for Pakistan to score freely. At the halfway mark (10 overs), Pakistan was 55/1, a decent but not explosive score.
The middle overs saw Pakistan try to up the tempo. Usman Khan and Fakhar Zaman came and went quickly, both falling to Canada’s disciplined bowling. Zaman’s dismissal, caught off Heyliger’s bowling for just 4 runs, was a big moment—Canada was keeping Pakistan’s big hitters quiet. Babar kept going, reaching a well-made fifty, but he couldn’t quite shift gears for a big finish. He was eventually out for 53, bowled by Gordon in the 18th over.
Pakistan’s lower order, including Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi, tried to push the score higher, but Canada’s bowlers held firm. Sana and Gordon were the stars, each taking two wickets, while Heyliger chipped in with one. Pakistan finished their 20 overs at 106/7—a low total by T20 standards, especially for a team of their caliber. Canada’s fielding was sharp, and their bowlers had executed their plans perfectly.
Canada’s Innings: A Brave Chase Falls Short
Chasing 107 to win, Canada knew they had a real chance. The total was modest, but the pitch was still challenging, and Pakistan’s bowlers—Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah—are among the best in the world. Canada needed to bat sensibly but also take calculated risks.
Aaron Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal opened for Canada. Johnson, who had been in great form in the qualifiers, started confidently, hitting a couple of boundaries off Afridi. But Pakistan’s bowlers struck back quickly. Amir got Dhaliwal out for 4, caught in the slips, and Canada was 12/1 after 3 overs. Johnson kept fighting, playing some lovely shots, but Naseem Shah got him for 15, trapped LBW in the 7th over. At 28/2 after 7 overs, Canada was in trouble.
Pargat Singh and Nicholas Kirton tried to rebuild, but Pakistan’s bowlers were relentless. Haris Rauf was particularly dangerous, mixing pace with clever variations. Kirton fell for 1, bowled by Rauf, and Singh was out for 2, caught off Amir’s bowling. Canada was wobbling at 54/4 after 12 overs, and the dream of an upset was fading.
Saad Bin Zafar and Ravinderpal Singh showed some fight, putting together a small partnership. Bin Zafar, the captain, played with grit, but Pakistan’s bowlers were too good. Afridi and Rauf cleaned up the lower order, with Canada eventually bowled out for 99 in 19.3 overs, falling 7 runs short. Rauf was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets, while Amir, Afridi, and Shah each took one.
The Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Breaking Down the Numbers
To make things clear and easy to understand, here’s the full Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the match. This table shows how each player performed, both with the bat and ball, and gives you a snapshot of the game.
|
Team |
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Status |
Bowler |
Wickets |
Overs |
Runs Given |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pakistan |
Mohammad Rizwan |
25 | 31 | 2 | 0 |
c Kirton b Sana |
Kaleem Sana |
2 | 4 | 21 | 5.25 |
|
Saim Ayub |
6 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
c Movva b Sana |
Jeremy Gordon |
2 | 4 | 20 | 5.00 | |
|
Babar Azam (c) |
53 | 44 | 6 | 1 |
b Gordon |
Dillon Heyliger |
1 | 4 | 18 | 4.50 | |
|
Fakhar Zaman |
4 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
c Johnson b Heyliger |
Saad Bin Zafar |
1 | 4 | 22 | 5.50 | |
|
Usman Khan |
2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
c Movva b Gordon |
Junaid Siddiqui |
0 | 4 | 25 | 6.25 | |
|
Shadab Khan |
10 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
not out |
||||||
|
Shaheen Afridi |
3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
c Dhaliwal b Bin Zafar |
||||||
|
Naseem Shah |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
run out (Movva) |
||||||
|
Extras |
3 |
(lb 1, w 2) |
|||||||||
|
Total |
106/7 |
20 overs |
|||||||||
|
Canada |
Aaron Johnson |
15 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
lbw b Naseem Shah |
Mohammad Amir |
2 | 4 | 19 | 4.75 |
|
Navneet Dhaliwal |
4 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
c Rizwan b Amir |
Haris Rauf |
2 | 3.3 | 16 | 4.84 | |
|
Pargat Singh |
2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
c Ayub b Amir |
Shaheen Afridi |
1 | 4 | 23 | 5.75 | |
|
Nicholas Kirton |
1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
b Rauf |
Naseem Shah |
1 | 4 | 22 | 5.50 | |
|
Ravinderpal Singh |
14 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
c Shadab b Afridi |
Imad Wasim |
0 | 4 | 19 | 4.75 | |
|
Saad Bin Zafar (c) |
20 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
b Rauf |
||||||
|
Shreyas Movva |
7 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
run out (Rizwan) |
||||||
|
Dillon Heyliger |
9 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
c Zaman b Naseem Shah |
||||||
|
Kaleem Sana |
13 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
not out |
||||||
|
Junaid Siddiqui |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
b Afridi |
||||||
|
Jeremy Gordon |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
c Rizwan b Rauf |
||||||
|
Extras |
14 |
(lb 5, w 9) |
|||||||||
|
Total |
99/10 |
19.3 overs |
Result: Pakistan won by 7 runs.
Player of the Match: Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) for his 2 wickets for 19 runs in 4 overs.
Key Moments and Turning Points
Every cricket match has moments that define it, and this one was no different. Here are a few that stood out:
-
Kaleem Sana’s Early Breakthrough: Sana’s dismissal of Saim Ayub in the 4th over set the tone for Canada’s bowling effort. It showed they weren’t intimidated by Pakistan’s reputation and were ready to fight.
-
Babar Azam’s Fifty: Babar’s 53 was the backbone of Pakistan’s innings. Without it, they might have been in even bigger trouble. His ability to anchor the innings on a tough pitch was crucial.
-
Canada’s Middle-Order Collapse: Losing Kirton and Singh in quick succession put Canada on the back foot. Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Rauf and Amir, turned the screws at just the right moment.
-
The Final Over Drama: With 13 runs needed off the last over, Canada still had a slim chance. But Haris Rauf’s composure, dismissing Bin Zafar and Gordon, sealed the deal for Pakistan.
What Made This Match Special
This wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about the spirit of the game. Canada, a team ranked much lower than Pakistan, pushed them to the limit. They showed that cricket is growing in places where it’s not traditionally a big sport. For Pakistan, it was a wake-up call. They couldn’t take any team lightly, and their bowlers had to step up to defend a low total.
The match also highlighted the beauty of T20 cricket. It’s fast, exciting, and even a low-scoring game can keep you glued to your seat. Fans in New York, many of whom were experiencing international cricket for the first time, got to see a contest that had everything—tight bowling, gritty batting, and a nail-biting finish.
Player Performances: Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Stars of the Show
-
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan): Named Player of the Match, Amir’s 2 wickets for 19 runs were crucial in breaking Canada’s top order. His experience and accuracy were on full display.
-
Babar Azam (Pakistan): His 53 runs held Pakistan’s innings together. On a day when others struggled, Babar showed why he’s one of the best in the world.
-
Kaleem Sana (Canada): Sana’s 2 wickets for 21 runs gave Canada hope. His pace and movement troubled Pakistan’s batsmen early on.
-
Saad Bin Zafar (Canada): The captain led from the front, taking a wicket with the ball and scoring 20 runs in a losing cause. His fighting spirit was inspiring.
The Bigger Picture: What This Match Meant
For Canada, this game was a milestone. They may not have won, but they showed they could compete with the best. Their performance against Pakistan, along with their win over Ireland in the same tournament, proved that cricket in Canada is on the rise. With players like Aaron Johnson and Kaleem Sana, the future looks bright.
For Pakistan, the win was a relief, but it exposed some weaknesses. Their batting struggled on a challenging pitch, and they’ll need to be more consistent to go deep in tournaments. Still, their bowlers showed why they’re feared, defending a small total with skill and composure.
Cricket’s Growing Reach
This match was also a reminder of how cricket is spreading to new places. The T20 World Cup being hosted in the USA was a big moment for the sport, and games like this one showed that teams from non-traditional cricketing nations can hold their own. The crowd in New York, a mix of passionate fans from both countries, created an electric atmosphere, proving that cricket’s appeal is universal.
Wrapping Up: A Game to Remember
The Canada National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on June 11, 2024, was more than just a game—it was a story of heart, hustle, and hope. Canada gave Pakistan a real scare, and while they fell just short, they won plenty of fans with their effort. Pakistan, meanwhile, showed their class under pressure, with their bowlers stepping up when it mattered most.
