After the USA recorded a historic victory over Pakistan, Al Jazeera lists the five biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
The USA pulled off one of the biggest upsets in cricket history by defeating Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup encounter in Dallas.
The victory, which came in a super over after the score was tied after the regulation 20 overs, sent shockwaves through the cricket world and led many pundits to believe that cricket could finally take off in the land of baseball.
Here are the top five surprises – in order of shock value – in the 17-year history of the T20 World Cup:
1. US beat Pakistan: 2024
The co-hosts had never faced Pakistan in any format of the game before Thursday’s match. Ranked 12 places below the 2009 champions, the USA entered the match enjoying their victory over Canada in the tournament’s opening match. Pakistan entered the tournament after a series defeat against England.
Despite the contrasting forms, few experts would have predicted that a team of newly turned professional cricketers would turn the tables on one of cricket’s powerhouses.
The US national team is made up of cricketers who played in India, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand until a few years ago. The country’s cricket infrastructure is not among the best, and the World Cup is being held in the United States by the International Cricket Council itself.
None of this had any bearing on the calm, professional demeanor of the US team players as they rioted in Dallas to launch US cricket’s biggest party.
2. Netherlands beat England: 2009
The first – and only – T20 World Cup began in the home of cricket, at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, with hosts England facing the so-called minnows, the Netherlands.
Everything seemed to be going well for England as they posted a score of 163, which was considered well above par in the early days of T20 cricket, and the Netherlands lost their first wicket in the first over. However, the Dutch consolidated in midfield and a 60-run partnership between Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren brought them a famous victory under the gray evening sky at Lord’s.
3. Nepal beat Afghanistan: 2014
Nepal was making its T20 World Cup debut and had already recorded a victory over Hong Kong. However, Afghanistan was a team on the rise, with several members playing cricket across the world.
Players like Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan were in the XI that was dismissed nine runs short of the target set by Paras Khadka’s Nepal.
4. Namibia beat Sri Lanka: 2022
Although Namibia had existed in the associated cricket circuit for many years, beating the 2014 T20 champions and the 1996 Over-50 World Cup winners was a cruel feat.
The Africans registered a total of 163 and then produced an impressive bowling display to rock Sri Lanka. The island nation were dismissed for 108 in 19 overs to kick off Namibia’s celebrations.
5. Afghanistan beat West Indies: 2016
West Indies entered the 2016 tournament as one of the favorites, with T20 stars Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Daren Sammy in their lineup.
Samuel Badree left his spin-bowling attack while restricting Afghanistan to 123, but the Afghan spinners had their own plans. Rashid Khan and Nabi took two wickets each to send 2012 reeling as Afghanistan completed a famous six-wicket win.
The West Indies lifted the trophy a few days later, making Afghanistan’s feat even more incredible.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
