NEW DELHI: Pakistanโs T20 World Cup journey ended in disappointment when they failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage due to a washout in the USA-Ireland game. The USAโs one-point gain secured their Super 8 spot in their tournament debut. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar expressed disappointment over Pakistanโs crushing elimination.
Pakistan needed Ireland to defeat the USA in their final group-stage match, but the draw left Ireland with only four points. Meanwhile, the USA finished with five points from four games, joining India in the next round from Group A.
In a close match against India in New York, Pakistan failed to chase 120 runs, followed by a crushing defeat against the USA in a Super over. These consecutive losses dashed Pakistanโs chances of reaching the Super 8, relying on other match outcomes to advance.
Akhtarโs one-liner: โPakistanโs World Cup journey ends.โ
Pakistanโs World Cup journey is over.
โ Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 14, 2024
Pakistan suffered a narrow loss to India in Dallas, New York, on Sunday, failing to chase a target of 120 runs. In their opening match in New York, they were defeated heavily by the USA in a Super Over. With these consecutive losses, Pakistanโs chances of advancing to the Super 8 were already dashed, making them reliant on other outcomes to progress.
However, Heavy rain and flooding in Fort Lauderdale further hindered Pakistanโs hopes of progress. Despite the USAโs strong start with wins over Canada and a competitive match against India, Pakistanโs shock loss marked a downturn. Their recent rise had started with a morale-boosting T20I series win against Bangladesh before the tournament.
This setback was significant for Pakistan, former finalists, and record-holders for most T20 World Cup semifinal appearances. Their failure to clear the group stage after a decade reflects a challenging period in their T20 World Cup history.
