Ramiz Raja has expressed doubts about Pakistan's ability to win the forthcoming T20 World Cup under Babar Azam's leadership after their disappointing performance in the first T20I against Ireland, where they couldn't defend the 183-run target, ultimately losing the match as the hosts chased it down in the final over with one ball remaining.

"You can't defend losing against Ireland. The body language looks weak, you have made combinations that have affected the team. The team was doing well, but the captaincy was changed and then the new captain was replaced with the previous one. In a World Cup year, the team has fallen to seventh position in the T20I rankings and this shows the actual condition of the team," Ramiz said on his YouTube Channel.

Looking ahead, Ramiz suggested that the USA team could pose a challenge for Pakistan in the tournament. He emphasized the presence of players with Indian and Pakistani backgrounds in the USA squad, indicating a potentially competitive edge.

"How will Pakistan win the World Cup, you don't have a combination, the opening pair is not set, the set batters lose their wickets and the middle order doesn't function well. In the current situation, how will Pakistan go to the semi-finals?" Ramiz questioned.

"I think US might give tough time to Pakistan because they also have some expats from India and Pakistan playing for them," he added.

Pakistan is in Group A with India, Ireland, USA and Canada in the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, USA have unveiled its squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, marking a significant milestone with the inclusion of former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson. Anderson, who was a key player in New Zealand's run to the finals in the 2015 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, brings a wealth of international experience to the team.

Monank Patel, an Indian American cricketer with past Under-19 experience in India, will lead the USA squad, supported by players like Saurabh Naresh Netravalkar and Shayan Jahangir, who have represented India and Pakistan respectively at the Under-19 level.

USA squad: Monank Patel (captain), Aaron Jones (vice-Captain), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Nethralvakar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir

Schedule of Pakistan in T20 World Cup:

June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas

June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York

June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York

June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill