ISLAMABAD: Pakistan crashed out of the Twenty20 World Cup on Friday after rain abandoned a game between the USA and Ireland and points were split between the two.
While the USA qualified for the Super Eight alongside India from Group A and sealed a place in the 2026 T20 World Cup as well, Pakistan suffered a humiliating exit from the showpiece tournament.
This is the earliest Pakistan have ever been knocked out of a T20 World Cup, having played just three games before their fate was sealed. The Babar Azam-led arrived in the USA with no warm-up games scheduled and most of their practice sessions were canceled due to rain.
Pakistan were punished by the home team in their opening fixture as the USA defeated them in the Super Over. Pakistan later fell apart chasing 120 runs against archrivals India and lost the game by six runs, which disappointed cricket fans back home.
“Cricket is like an escape for us, from our daily routine, from our daily lives, things that cause us problems,” Mohammad Hisham Raja, a 24-year-old fan, said after Pakistan’s loss to India.
“So this is an escape, but there are more problems for us in this one [cricket] as well. So they [Pakistan cricket fans] are feeling sad.”
Cricket in Pakistan is not just a sport but is deeply embedded in the nation’s identity and constitutes a significant source of pride. The performance of Pakistan’s team not only influences the collective mood but also acts as a barometer of national esteem, with victories celebrated as monumental achievements and defeats often taken to heart by the populace.
Following the defeat against India, a lawyer in Pakistan’s Gujranwala city also filed a petition against the national team, seeking treason charges against the players for their lackluster performance in the ongoing World Cup, according to local media reports.
The petitioner expressed deep concern over the disappointing performance of the national cricket team, calling it a waste of money and a betrayal of the nation’s trust.
The loss to India left Pakistan depending on other results, particularly the outcome of the game in Lauderhill between USA and Ireland. Ireland’s win would have kept Pakistan hopes alive, while any other outcome giving USA an unassailable lead over Pakistan on the points table.
Pakistan won their only game against Canada and still have one game left to play against Ireland, who were also eliminated as a result of Friday’s washout.
Pakistan also suffered group-stage eliminations in 2014 and 2016, but reached at least the semifinals on every other occasion. Pakistan along with England have reached the finals for a record number of times and won the title in 2009.