USA vs PAK, ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Defeat to USA completes unwanted hat-trick for Pakistan

There is a video on Iftikhar Ahmed’s Instagram page, of Pakistan cricketers climbing up a hill carrying big rocks over their heads. The exercise was from an army-style boot camp that the team underwent as part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup. Ultimately, though, core strength doesn’t win you cricket matches. You need to score runs and take wickets, and Pakistan were found wanting on both counts as a ragtag bunch of players representing the United States of America (USA) pulled off the biggest shock in cricket history at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

Such upsets are not new for Pakistan cricket. Back in 1999, Bangladesh – playing in their first [50-over] World Cup – shocked Wasim Akram’s team in a group-stage fixture. But then, there were two mitigating factors. Pakistan were already assured of a place in the next round, and Bangladesh, though new to the World Cup, had a long tradition of cricket, with Dhaka having hosted Pakistan’s first home Test back in January 1955.

Eight years later, at Sabina Park in Jamaica, with Cotton Eye Joe, the Rednex tune, blaring from the stadium speakers and hundreds of fans in their Saint Patrick’s Day finest swigging their Red Stripes and singing Molly Malone, a bunch of Irish part-timers beat Pakistan by seven wickets. It was a defeat that sent Pakistan tumbling out of the competition, but any recriminations were sadly overshadowed by the tragic death of Bob Woolmer, their coach, a few hours later.

Again, it was Ireland’s first World Cup appearance. But there too, there was a proud, if unknown, cricket history. At Sion Mills in 1969, Ireland had skittled a West Indies touring side that included Clive Lloyd and Clyde Walcott for just 25. Ed Joyce, the opening batsman, had just switched allegiances to play for England, and Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin would soon follow.