USA stunned Pakistan in T20 World Cup boilover (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
For the second time in five days, euphoria broke out in the quiet neighbourhood of Grand Prairie in Dallas.
In one of the biggest upsets in cricket history, the U.S – playing their first World Cup and long a punch line due to the tumultuous state of American cricket – stunned former champions Pakistan on Thursday in a nerve-jangling match that needed a super over after scores were level at 159.
It’s an upset that can’t be underestimated. Even though the U.S. had started the tournament with a resounding chase down of Canada, a match they entered as favorites, this loomed as an entirely different prospect against a cricket powerhouse.
Pakistan, whose sheer devotion to cricket rivals neighbor India, were the finalists at the last T20 World Cup in 2022 and boasted an experienced team filled with some of the sport’s biggest stars.
But the U.S. bowled superbly to limit Pakistan to a middling total before batting smartly in their chase. After his big-hitting assault against Canada, Aaron Jones, born in Queens and raised in Barbados, played maturely as the U.S. handled the pressure much better than their high profile opponents.
Of course, they were aided by Pakistan being Pakistan. Americans might just be getting used to this, but Pakistan are the most baffling team in cricket. Moments of magic are often undone by utter ridiculousness reinforcing their status as innately frustrating, but entertaining – often by accident with the unintentional comedy high for this team.
Even by their standards, this was an epic meltdown by Pakistan with quick Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s most experienced bowler, bowling sloppily in the super over to basically hand the match on a platter to the U.S.
The U.S upset Pakistan in Dallas (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
The bloodletting has already begun in Pakistan, a cricket-mad country where so much is invested in its national team. If things go awry, then things can turn particularly nasty.
Their World Cup fortunes are now hanging by a thread, with the stakes now unexpectedly high for their blockbuster against arch-rival India in New York. Of course, written off and lambasted by all, Pakistan will end up winning the tournament.
But, right now, this is all about unbeaten U.S. who are now in pole position to be one of the two teams to emerge from Pool A and into the Super Eight stage. This is a highly competitive team filled with players from South Asian and Caribbean backgrounds.
Future generations of local players are hoped to be inspired by what’s transpiring on the field.
U.S have brought smiles to their faces of their fans (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty … [+]
The U.S. could have been strengthened if not for a hard-line selection policy, which ruled out in-form Australia-born quick Cameron Gannon. It doesn’t seem to matter because the U.S. are showing off impressive depth and playing with poise.
India, cricket’s undisputed powerhouse and title favorites, will suddenly be extremely wary of the U.S. when the teams meet in New York on June 12.
With the contentious drop-in pitch at Nassau County Stadium in Long Island doing strange things, which critics have labelled as ‘dangerous’ and the authorities have been forced into damage control, the U.S. may be able to take it up to India.
That is all to come, but the U.S. have helped lit a fuse under a T20 World Cup dogged by controversy. Exorbitant ticket prices has led to underwhelming crowds at the 34,000-seat modular stadium in Long Island, which cost $30 million as I first reported, while its aforementioned pitch has resulted in excruciatingly short matches.
So the unexpected emergence of the U.S. has proven a much-needed feel good story. It’s also triggered bedlam in the terraces in Dallas with fans attired in red, white and blue going stir crazy.
Only a small gathering has congregated at the World Trade Center for the T20 World Cup fan zones, where big screens broadcast games. But in a heart-warming moment captured on video, a fan draped in an American fan was losing the plot after U.S. had secured its greatest ever victory.
No one thinks cricket will ever take over the world’s biggest sports market. Amid NBA and NHL fever, most people in the U.S. are oblivious to one of the biggest international sporting events being held in their backyard.
But something is percolating for the U.S. both on-and-off the field. And their underdog national cricket team aren’t done shocking the world just yet.