After the US recorded a historic victory over Pakistan, Al Jazeera lists the 5 greatest upsets in event historical past.
America pulled off one of many greatest upsets in cricket historical past by beating Pakistan of their T20 World Cup 2024 encounter in Dallas.
The victory, which got here in an excellent over after the scores had been tied after the regulation 20 overs, despatched shockwaves by way of the cricket world and led many pundits to imagine that cricket may lastly take off within the land of the baseball.
Listed here are the 5 greatest upsets, so as of significance, within the 17-year historical past of the T20 World Cup:
1. United States beat Pakistan: 2024
The co-hosts had by no means performed Pakistan in any recreation format earlier than Thursday’s match. America, 12 locations behind the 2009 champions, got here into the sport constructing on their victory over Canada of their first match of the event. Pakistan entered the event after a collection loss towards England.
Regardless of the contrasting types, not many consultants would have predicted {that a} group of just lately turned skilled cricketers would flip round certainly one of cricket’s powerhouses.
The US group is made up of cricketers who performed in India, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand till a number of years in the past. The nation’s cricket infrastructure will not be among the many finest, and the Worldwide Cricket Council itself is organizing the World Cup in the US.
None of that had any bearing on the calm, skilled demeanor of Crew USA’s gamers after they made a splash in Dallas to kick off America’s greatest cricket bash.
2. Netherlands beat England: 2009
The primary (and solely) T20 World Cup opened on the house of cricket, Lord’s Cricket Floor in London, with hosts England taking up the so-called minnows, the Netherlands.
All appeared to be going properly for England after they posted a rating of 163, which was thought-about properly above common within the early days of T20 cricket, and Holland misplaced their first wicket within the first over. Nevertheless, the Dutch consolidated within the center overs and a 60-run partnership between Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren gave them a well-known victory beneath the grey night sky at Lord’s.
3. Nepal beat Afghanistan: 2014
Nepal was making its debut within the T20 World Cup and had already recorded a victory over Hong Kong. Nevertheless, Afghanistan had been a group on the rise with a number of members of the group enjoying cricket leagues world wide.
Gamers like Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan had been within the enjoying eleven that was dismissed 9 runs wanting the goal set by Paras Khadka’s Nepal.
4. Namibia beat Sri Lanka: 2022
Whereas Namibia had been current within the affiliate cricket circuit for a few years, for them to beat the 2014 T20 champions and the 1996 50-over World Cup winners was a paltry feat.
The Africans recorded a complete of 163 matches after which produced a powerful bowling show to rock Sri Lanka. The island nation had been bowled out for 108 in 19 overs to kick off Namibia’s celebrations.
5. Afghanistan beat West Indies: 2016
The West Indies got here into the 2016 event as one of many favourites, with T20 stars Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Daren Sammy of their line-up.
Samuel Badree deserted his bowling assault as they restricted Afghanistan to 123, however the Afghan spinners had their very own plans. Rashid Khan and Nabi took two wickets every to rock 2012 as Afghanistan accomplished a well-known six-wicket victory.
The West Indies lifted the trophy a number of days later, making Afghanistan’s feat much more unbelievable.