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In a thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 Group A clash at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday (June 6) Pakistan suffered a shocking defeat against the co-hosts, United States of America (USA). Former Pakistan pace sensation Shoaib Akhtar expressed his deep disappointment over the outcome, as Babar Azam & Co. succumbed to the USA’s remarkable performance.
Pakistan falls to USA in T20 World Cup 2024 opener
Pakistan’s downfall was starkly evident as the match went into a Super Over after the co-hosts matched the Men in Green’s score of 159 in the stipulated 20 overs. In a turn of events, USA prevailed, posting 18/1 in their Super Over and setting a 19-run target for Pakistan’s chase.
Adding to Pakistan’s woes, Mohammad Amir‘s poor bowling saw him concede seven wides in a crucial over. The chase, aiming for 19 runs, fizzled as Pakistan could only manage 13/1 in their Super Over. Saurabh Netravalkar emerged as the star performer, defending 18 runs to secure a historic win for the USA.
Also READ: Cricket world bows down to USA’s incredible victory over Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024
USA’s triumph: Monank Patel leads from the front
The USA’s victory was a result of exceptional teamwork and outstanding leadership, with skipper Monank Patel playing a pivotal role. Patel’s captain’s innings of 50 runs off 38 balls set the tone for the USA’s chase, with key contributions from Andries Gous and Aaron Jones.
Nitish Kumar‘s composed performance in the final over rescued the co-hosts from defeat against Pakistan, as he leveled the score and forced the match into a Super Over. The USA’s historic win not only strengthened their position in the group stage but also marked a significant moment for cricket in the United States.
Shoaib Akhtar’s reaction: Disappointment and praise
Sharing his sentiments on social media platform X, Former speedster Akhtar highlighted Pakistan’s missed opportunities and the impressive resilience shown by the USA team. While acknowledging the valiant efforts of teams bowlers, particularly Amir, Akhtar praised the USA’s exceptional performance and emphasized that Pakistan was outplayed by the co-hosts. He expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s inability to capitalize on crucial moments in the game, leading to their unexpected defeat.
“Disappointing loss for Pakistan. We are not off to a good start, losing to USA. We repeated history, like we did against Bangladesh in the 1999 World Cup. Unfortunately, Pakistan never deserved to win. The reason is that USA played very well and they were in a commanding position. Amir saved the match. He and Shaheen tried. They [US] won 37 overs of the contest, if we look at the overall picture. Unfortunately, we couldn’t pull it off,” Akhtar said.
Hurt & disappointed. #pakvsusa pic.twitter.com/PfQkk6qQ09
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 6, 2024
