The United States of America, in its maiden appearance at the T20 World Cup, made history by advancing to the Super 8 stage of the tournament after their last Group A match against Ireland at Lauderhill was washed out without a ball being bowled on Friday. Apart from ensuring the USA’s historic qualification to the second round from a tough group, this washout also ended Pakistan’s hopes. The 2009 champions were knocked out of the tournament.
The Babar Azam-led side will play Ireland in their last group-stage match on Sunday at the same venue, but the result of that game is irrelevant to the standings of this group. Pakistan’s only hope of staying alive in the tournament was if Ireland had beaten the USA. Any other result would have knocked them out, and that’s exactly what happened.
The USA ended the group stage with five points from four games, and Pakistan, even if they win their last match against Ireland, could reach only four points.
Pakistan went down to India in New York on Sunday in a close game, failing to chase a target of 120. Before that, in their opening game in Dallas, they suffered a shock Super Over loss to USA.
The back-to-back defeats meant Pakistan’s chances of advancing to the Super Eight were already out of their own hands. It is yet another global tournament where the unpredictable Pakistanis again left it too late.
Thanks to their wins over neighbours Canada and heavyweights Pakistan in their first two outings, the USA joined India in the Super Eight stage.
The chances of Friday’s match taking place were always bleak as the state of Florida, where Lauderhill is situated, had been hit by a tropical thunderstorm, leading to incessant rain and flash flooding.But, even if the match had taken place, the USA, buoyed by the two big wins and their spirited effort against India, would have certainly backed themselves to overcome Ireland and progress to the Super Eights.
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