Former champions Pakistan were knocked out of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after the all-important fixture between co-host USA and Ireland was washed out in Florida yesterday.
The USA, playing their first-ever T20 World Cup, qualified for the Super 8 stage of the tournament as they shared points with Ireland due to washout.
Besides Pakistan, Ireland have also been eliminated from the Super 8s stage.
The USA finished the group stage with five points in four matches. Whereas, Pakistan could attain a maximum of four points if they manage to beat Ireland in their last group fixture, scheduled on June 16.
Pakistan’s early exit from the 20-team tournament shook the world, prompting reactions on social media from cricketers and analysts from across the globe.
The former England captain took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account and shared his opinion on the USA’s qualification as well as Pakistan’s ouster.
“USA through to the Super 8s … Cricket is going to catch on in the States… !! Pakistan are out … at the moment they are a long way off being a good white-ball side,” Vaughan posted.
Meanwhile, the former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq expressed his disappointment over the Green Shirts’ performance.
“It’s very saddening, heartbreaking, and embarrassing to watch Pakistan Team exit from the super 8 of the T20 World Cup tournament. I really believe that we need to put Pakistan first before we take any actions and decisions and we should all reflect on each mistake we made, as individuals and collectively,” Mushtaq posted.
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On the other hand, former Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer expressed his opinion that Pakistan’s exit from the tournament was due to their own shortcomings, not because of rain in Florida.
“Contrary to popular belief, Pakistan didn’t get knocked out because USA v IRE got rained off. They got knocked out because Pakistan lost to the USA,” Jaffar posted.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Kamran Akmal stated the fact that the Green Shirts played below par average, resulting in their elimination.
“It is really very disappointing and sad that Pakistan team could not reach to the Super Eight, but it is also a bitter fact that Pakistan team played below the average cricket. Now it’s time to rectify the problems,” Akmal posted.
Pakistan had a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign as they suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of the USA in the Super Over.
The Green Shirts then succumbed to a frustrating six-run defeat against arch-rivals India in a blockbuster clash, that took place at a jam-packed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 9.
The former champions then finally got on the winning track when they registered a hard-fought seven-wicket victory over Canada, who lost all three matches they have played thus far.
Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.
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