USA vs PAK T20 World Cup: The Pakistan Cricket Team is an enigma that continues to bewilder cricket fans around the world. This is a team that can match and beat any opponent—whether it’s Australia, India, or England—on any given day. They have produced some absolute legends of the game who have gone on to win every possible ICC trophy.
However, on certain days, Pakistan can appear plain and ordinary, resembling an associate cricket team. In the past, they have suffered surprising defeats, such as losing to Bangladesh (when they didn’t have Test status) in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, Ireland in 2007, Zimbabwe in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and most recently, and in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, a super-over defeat against the USA.
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Babar Azam made an unwanted record as Pakistan captain
The USA captain, Monank Patel, won the all-important toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan. Although the early conditions favored the bowlers with the new ball swinging, it can never be an excuse for a top team like Pakistan.
Babar Azam was passive for most of his innings, taking 43 balls to score 44 runs. Shadab Khan provided a much-needed boost in the middle-overs, scoring 40 runs off 25 balls. In the end, it was Shaheen Afridi (23 off 16) who helped Pakistan post 159/7 in 20 overs.
USA made a good start to the chase and were ahead of the required run-rate for the most part of the match. But Pakistan’s fast bowlers produced a remarkable spell at the back end of the 2nd innings, where they bowled dot balls and the pressure eventually went to USA batters.
Needing 12 runs from the last three balls, with Haris Rauf bowling, Pakistan had the game firmly in hand. However, the 2009 champions conceded 11 runs in those three balls, sending the match to a super-over.
Even then, Pakistan has only themselves to blame, as fast bowler Mohammad Amir bowled a nine-ball over, with seven runs coming from wide balls. And the rest is history.
With that 5-run defeat in super-over, Babar Azam created an unwanted record as a Pakistan captain. He is the only captain in Pakistan cricket’s history to lose matches against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland and USA.
Babar Azam’s unwanted record as captain: Only captain to lose against following nations
- Against Zimbabwe (During 2022 T20 World Cup)
- Against Afghanistan (During 2023 ODI World Cup)
- Against Ireland (During Pakistan’s T20 tour of Ireland)
- Against USA (During 2024 T20 World Cup)
After the five-run win, USA is now leading Group A with four points from two matches, followed by India, who started the campaign with a solid eight-wicket win over Ireland.
Pakistan’s next match in the 2024 T20 World Cup is against India on June 9.
