Pakistan was eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup on Friday when rain halted a USA-Ireland game and split the points. India and the USA advanced for the Super Eight from Group A and qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup, but Pakistan was humiliated. After three games, Pakistan became the earliest T20 World Cup team to be eliminated.
Pakistan Out of T20 Tournament!
The Babar Azam-led team landed in the US without warm-up games and with most practice sessions cancelled due to rain. Pakistan lost their first match to the USA in the Super Over. Pakistan collapsed chasing 120 runs against archrivals India and lost by six runs, disappointing cricket fans at home.
“Cricket is like an escape for us, from our daily routine, from our daily lives, things that cause us problems,” 24-year-old fan Mohammad Hisham Raja said after Pakistan’s loss to India. This cricket is an escape, but it also presents new challenges. So Pakistani cricket fans are sad.” Pakistanis are proud of cricket, which is more than a sport. Pakistan’s team’s success affects the nation’s mood and esteem, with victories lauded and setbacks taken personally.
According to local media sources, a lawyer in Gujranwala has filed a lawsuit against the national squad, seeking treason charges for their poor World Cup performance. The petitioner criticised the national cricket team’s poor performance as a waste of money and a violation of trust. The loss to India left Pakistan dependent on other results, particularly the USA-Ireland game in Lauderhill.
Ireland’s win would have kept Pakistan’s aspirations alive, while any other result would have given USA a commanding points lead. Pakistan beat Canada and have one game against Ireland, who were eliminated after Friday’s washout. Hence, Pakistan lost in 2014 and 2016, but reached the semifinals every other time. Pakistan and England have reached the finals a record number of times and won in 2009.