After the United States’ historic win over Pakistan, Al Jazeera listed the five major upsets in the tournament’s history.
USA pulled off one of the biggest upsets in cricket history by defeating Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup in Dallas.
The victory, won by a super over after the score was tied after 20 overs of regulation, shocked the cricket world and led many pundits to believe that cricket could finally take off in the land of baseball.
Here are the top five upsets in the 17-year history of the T20 World Cup, sorted by shock value.
1. America beat Pakistan: 2024
The co-hosts had never played Pakistan in any format before Thursday’s match. The United States, ranked 12 spots lower than the 2009 champions, came into play with a win over Canada in the tournament opener. Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of back-to-back defeats against England.
Despite the contrasting form, not many pundits could have predicted that a team of recently turned professional cricketers would upset one of cricket’s powerhouses.
The U.S. team is made up of cricketers who until a few years ago played for India, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand. The country’s cricket infrastructure is not up to par and the International Cricket Council itself is holding the World Cup in the country.
No one commented on the calm and professional demeanor of Team USA’s players as they stormed out of Dallas to kick off the biggest cricket party in the country.
2. Netherlands beat England: 2009
The first and only T20 World Cup was held at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground, the home of cricket, with hosts England taking on the so-called minnows Netherlands.
Everything seemed to be going well when England scored 163 runs, well above the benchmark in the early days of T20 cricket, before the Netherlands lost their first wicket in the first over. But the Netherlands consolidated in the middle overs and a 60-run partnership between Tom de Grooth and Peter Borren secured a famous victory under gray evening skies at Lord’s.
3. Nepal beat Afghanistan: 2014
Nepal made its debut in the T20 World Cup and has already recorded one win against Hong Kong. However, Afghanistan was an emerging team with several members of the squad playing league cricket around the world.
Players like Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan scored 9 points better than the target set by Paras Khadka’s Nepal. He was sent off for a point or less and was included in the XI.
4. Namibia beat Sri Lanka: 2022
Namibia have been competing in semi-cricket competitions for many years, but for them to beat the 2014 T20 champions and 1996 50-over World Cup winners was a mean feat.
The Africans recorded a total of 163 runs and produced a stunning bowling performance that rocked Sri Lanka. The island nation fired 108 from 19 to kick off Namibia’s celebrations.
5. Afghanistan beat West Indies: 2016
West Indies entered the 2016 tournament as one of the favorites with T20 stars Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Daren Sammy in their line-up.
Samuel Badree left the spin bowling attack restricting Afghanistan to 123, but the Afghan spinners had plans of their own. Rashid Khan and Nabi took two wickets each to send Lille into 2012 as Afghanistan completed a famous six-wicket win.
West Indies went on to lift the trophy a few days later, making Afghanistan’s feat even more incredible.
