Pakistan’s national cricket team suffered a significant blow during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, exiting the tournament’s group stage for the first time in history. The decisive moment came when a rain-affected match between the United States and Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida, resulted in both teams gaining a point each. This outcome ensured the USA’s progression to the Super 8s for the first time ever, sealing Pakistan’s fate.
Led by Babar Azam, Pakistan’s journey began with a surprising defeat to the USA on June 5 in New York, setting a disappointing tone. This was followed by a narrow loss to India on June 9, marking their second consecutive setback in the tournament. Despite a victory over Canada in their third match, Pakistan’s hopes hinged on Ireland defeating the USA to keep their chances alive.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s final group-stage match against Ireland on June 16 now serves as a mere formality, with their elimination already confirmed. This unexpected early exit has sparked widespread disappointment and raised questions among Pakistani cricket enthusiasts and analysts alike.
This tournament marks Pakistan’s first failure to advance beyond the group stage since 2016 and only the third time overall. The outcome underscores the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and serves as a sobering moment for a team with a rich cricketing history.