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Pakistan's shocking defeat to the USA in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The co-hosts stunned the Babar Azam's Men in Green in a thrilling Super Over encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on June 6.
Babar Azam accused of favouritism after Pakistan's shocking loss
This unexpected loss has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with former players taking aim at the team's performance. Basit Ali, a former Pakistani cricketer, has joined the chorus of disapproval. He has particularly targeted captain Babar Azam, questioning his team selection choices and hinting at favoritism.
"He has been consistently selecting players who are close to him and that has put paid to Pakistan's chances," Basit Ali told AFP.
Pakistan's batting woes continued in the T20 World Cup opener against the USA. Put in to bat first, their start was disastrous. They lost three crucial wickets cheaply - Mohammad Rizwan (9), Usman Khan (3), and Fakhar Zaman (11) - all falling with just 26 runs on the board in less than 5 overs. This early collapse left Pakistan in a precarious position. However, captain Babar Azam (44 off 43) and all-rounder Shadab Khan (40 off 25) steadied the ship with a crucial 72-run partnership built over just 48 deliveries. Their partnership provided much-needed stability and helped rebuild the innings.
Following their dismissals, cameos from Iftikhar Ahmed (18* off 14) and Shaheen Afridi (23* off 16) provided some late impetus. Pakistan eventually managed to reach a total of 159/7 in their 20 overs.
USA upsets Pakistan in Super Over thriller
Chasing a target of 160, the USA batsmen displayed remarkable grit. Captain Monank Patel led the charge with a well-composed 50 off 38 deliveries, while valuable contributions from Andries Ghous (35 off 26) and Aaron Jones' unbeaten 36 off 26 balls propelled them towards the target. With both teams ending on 159 runs after their respective innings, the match went into a nerve-wracking Super Over. Unfortunately for Pakistan, their fielding in the Super Over was sluggish, allowing the USA to score a competitive 18 runs off Mohammad Amir's bowling. In response, Pakistan's batting faltered under pressure. Saurabh Netravalkar, the USA's bowling hero, restricted them to a meager 13 runs, sealing a historic victory for the underdogs.
This shocking defeat puts Pakistan under immense pressure. Their next challenge is a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals India on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
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