It was almost in the bag for Pakistan until Haris Rauf got hit for a four over mid-off to tie the scores, which forced their Group A game against co-hosts USA in the T20 World Cup on Thursday into a ‘Super Over’. But Babar Azam & Co collapsed under pressure in a tie-breaker and went down to an upset defeat that US cricket will remember.
Both sides ended up batting 159 and eventually, it was decided by the ‘Super Over’ where USA (18 runs) defeated Pakistan team (13 runs).
The loss has understandably left Pakistan fans, experts and former cricketers heartbroken after their team’s awful show.
“Ek hi dil hai, kitni baar todoge?” said a British Pakistani woman who questioned Pakistan.
The fan nearly cried out loud as he or she responded with such words as “Jetate kum hain, haarte zyada hain…aap kab performance dikhayenge?…aap bas hawa mei baatein karte hain, kuchh dikhate to nahi hain…Ab to aise lag raha hai ke bas jaise aap ghoomne aate hain aur jaise taise khel ke chale jaate hain…Meri literally bas ho gayi hai..aap logon nei mazak samjha hua hai,”
(English translation: You lose more than winning. When will you show some performance? You guys only talk in the air, don’t actually do anything. Now it seems you come like tourists, play in whatever way, and go back. I am done. Also, you guys have turned this into a joke.)
Saurabh Netravalkar from Mumbai who is now settled in US bowled the Super Over for USA ahead of an experienced Mohammad Amir whose line wasn’t right as he conceded 7 runs as wides in the tie-breaker.
USA, who now have two wins from as many matches and sit on top of Group A, registered their second T20I win over a Test-playing nation in under a month. They had defeated Bangladesh to win the T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup.
This is Pakistan’s first loss in T20Is against a non-full-ICC-member team.
The 2009 champions now face the possibility of virtually being knocked out if they lose to archrivals India in their next match on June 9 at New York.
