Pakistan faced a disastrous defeat against the United States of America (USA) in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday, June 6. In a thrilling game that went to a Super Over, the former champions were bested by the newcomers. USA matched Pakistan’s score of 159 and then posted an impressive 18 runs in the Super Over, leaving Pakistan unable to chase the target as they managed only 13 runs in reply.
The loss sparked widespread criticism, with fans and analysts alike expressing their disappointment over Pakistan’s performance. Adding a satirical twist to the backlash, renowned Pakistani poet and satirist Anwar Maqsood suggested humorously that Pakistan might have intentionally lost the game to secure financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF is an international organization that provides monetary support to countries in need.
“They [Pakistan] were forced to lose. An IMF-sanctioned loan is due. We haven’t received the grant. It might as well have been a condition, ‘Lose to America, then we’ll give the money.’ I can’t think of any other reason. The Pakistanis who have bought the tickets [for the game], they, I think, will resell them at half the price,” Anwar Maqsood quipped in a viral video.
ALSO READ: ICC Issues Statement On Pitch Concerns At Nassau County Stadium Amid T20 World Cup 2024
Looking ahead, Pakistan faces a crucial match against India on June 9 at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. This game is a must-win for the Babar Azam-led side, as another loss would severely impact their chances of advancing to the Super 8 stage.
پاکستان امریکا سے مجبوری میں ہارا ہے، آئی ایم ایف سے ابھی قرضہ ملنا ہے، انور مقصود 🧐#PakvsUSA pic.twitter.com/hsrgnUYIUl
— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) June 6, 2024
Reflecting on the defeat, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam attributed the loss to the ineffective performance of their spinners and the team’s inability to capitalize on early opportunities. He noted that the spinners failed to take wickets on a pitch that retained moisture throughout the game, which was a significant factor in their downfall.
ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya Reflects On India’s Positive Start In T20 World Cup 2024
“In the first 6 overs while batting, we didn’t capitalize. Losing back-to-back wickets always puts you on the back foot. As a batter, you need to step up and build partnerships. We were not up to the mark in the first 6 overs with the ball, and our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs, which cost us. All credit to USA, they played better than us in all three departments. The pitch had a bit of moisture and was two-paced, but as professionals, we need to assess and adapt to the conditions,” Babar Azam stated during the post-match presentation.
