 "'Panicstan vs USA', 'like Red Sox losing to Durham Bulls': How the world reacted to USA's stunning win against Pakistan")
Many thought USA, as co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, would fill the space in a group involving India and Pakistan. Coming into it, Ireland had better odds of giving the Asian giants a run for their money. The script was torn to pieces on Thursday when USA beat Pakistan in the Super Over and may well have got the job done in regulation time. Irrespective, USA got everyone to sit up and take notice .
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And that is what was needed for the American audience to pay attention to cricket. Maybe this is just what the ICC needed to jolt the tournament alive and bring people to the stadiums - something they’re desperately struggling to achieve.
After scoring 18 runs in the Super Over, Saurabh Netravalkar slammed the door shut on Babar Azam-led Pakistan by conceding 13 runs.
The thrilling finish in Dallas by the T20 World Cup debutants over the 2022 finalists and 2009 winners is one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition.
The victory, expectedly, was heralded across the cricketing world. However, only few hardcore fans witnessed the niche sport stateside.
The game was played in a converted minor-league baseball park in the Grand Prairie suburb of Dallas, Texas which holds just 7,000 spectators.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe game wasn’t even broadcast on American television but was instead only shown on the cricket-specialist Willow TV subscription channel and streaming service.
But online and on social media, American sports fans quickly became aware of their team’s achievement.
NPR public radio tried to put the win into context for those unfamiliar with the sport. “Team USA just beat Pakistan in Super Over, the baseball equivalent is extra innings,” they reported.
“Just to put this into an American sports context, Pakistan losing to the US is like the Boston Red Sox losing to the Durham Bulls,” they added, referring to the minor league baseball team from North Carolina.
Outside of the USA there was no need for analogies.
UK’s The Times called it “one of the biggest upsets in cricket history” while Australia’s Daily Telegraph said the Americans had “stunned world cricket”.
The ICC have played down talk of ‘converting’ sceptical mainstream American fans as a goal for this tournament but the win is bound to raise their hopes.
“Now that’s the way to grow the game in the States,” tweeted former England captain Michael Vaughan after the match.
Joe Lynn, the curator of the United States Cricket Museum at Haverford College, near Philadelphia, said the wins were “the perfect start” for what he sees as a comeback for the game.
“Perhaps it’s always been a misnomer to say cricket died in the US at the hands of baseball, but I think its been in hibernation more than anything else. With Major League Cricket and this World Cup it is a reawakening of sorts,” he told the BBC.
Former cricketers react to Pakistan’s disappointing show
Former cricketers including Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Jaffer and Vaughan offered varying reactions to the outcome.
“Disappointing loss for Pakistan. We are not off to a good start. Losing to the USA, we repeated history, like we did against Bangladesh in the 1999 World Cup.
“Unfortunately, Pakistan never deserves to win. The reason why USA ne bahut acha khela hai. Commanding position mein the hamesha. Amir saved the match, Shaheen, Amir sabne kosish ki. 37 over vo (USA) jeete hai humse, agar dekha jaaye pura match. 37 overs vo jeete hai but unfortunately we couldn’t pull off (USA played well and was in commanding position always. Amir and Shaheen tried hard but USA was ahead for 37 overs or even the complete match),” said Akhtar in a video.
I thought it was Pakistan v USA but it ended up being Panicstan v USA. #PakvsUSA #T20worldcup
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 6, 2024
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer wrote: “I thought it was Pakistan v USA but it ended up being Panicstan v USA.”
Pakistan’s defeat gets further meaning ahead of the big clash with India on Sunday. And for USA, they will hope to keep the surprise run going when they meet India in New York next week.
This could bring this T20 World Cup to life. Who would have thought USA would beat Pakistan. But better team win no doubt. #T20WorldCup
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 6, 2024
Celebrate in the Sardar Patel Institute of Technology in Mumbai. One of your alums has bowled a tremendous super over against Pakistan.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 6, 2024
Just came off a flight from Miami. What happened in Dallas today😳😳😳😱😱
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) June 6, 2024
Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik called for a change in the composition of the batting, including Babar’s position in the order. Against the USA, Babar Azam had opened alongside Mohammad Rizwan and scored 44 off 43 balls.
“The middle order has not worked. You tried yourself as an opener, so you can try yourself in the middle-order. If there is any problem in the team that needs fixing, the skipper should lead from the front,” Shoaib Malik said on Ten Sports.
“The middle order are skilful enough to do the job. The likes of Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan just need guidance during their time on the pitch. And there is no one better than Babar Azam to do that job for the betterment of the team,” Malik added.
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