Pakistan’s embarrassing defeat in the hands of the United States of America in their 2024 T20 World Cup opener added to their long list of heartbreaks. For that, we decided to look at the Top 10 Pakistan’s heartbreaking T20WC games that fans would like to forget.
Pakistan’s heartbreaking T20WC games
Pakistan vs USA | 2024 T20 World Cup | Group Stage | Dallas, Texas
On a good surface, Pakistan struggled to get going. They managed only 46-3 by nine overs before they finally got moving on, scrapping their way to 159. USA were always in the game as they were comfortable up till the 13th over at 104-1. Haris Rauf got the breakthrough and USA fell behind at the run rate.
At the last over, Rauf had to defend 15. When 12 was needed in three balls, Aaron Jones smoked one over long-on to bring the equation down to 6 from 2. It eventually became 5 off 1, where Nitish Kumar smashed a boundary to take it to the Super Over.
In the Super Over, the USA scored 18. Amir bowled and bowled seven wide deliveries. Pakistan needed 19 to win but managed only 13, losing by five runs. It has been marked as the lowest of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup losses.
Also Read: Explainer: How does the new format of the T20 World Cup 2024 will work
India vs Pakistan | 2007 T20 World Cup | The Final | Johannesburg
The first heartbreak and the biggest. Two teams headed to the final with expectations. India scored 157 in their 20 overs, led by Gautam Gambhir’s 75. Pakistan were limping during the run chase as they were 77-6 in 11 overs.
Misbah ul-Haq held the innings together and took the game down to the final over, where 13 was required to win with a wicket in hand. Eventually, it came down to 6 off 4 after Misbah hit a six. But a poor shot decision in the next ball saw Misbah become a hero to a villain. India won the game by five runs and gave Pakistan fans the biggest heartbreak.
Pakistan vs Australia | 2010 T20 World Cup | Semi Final | Dubai
Another one of those heartbreaks that fans remember in this format was Mike Hussey’s brutal assault on Saeed Ajmal in the final over.
PAK team had scored huge, putting on 191-6 on the back of the fifties from the Akmal brothers. On top of that, Australia had struggled in the middle phase and were 114-3 inside the 15th over. They needed 77 runs in the remaining 39 balls. But Hussey’s entry changed the course as he scored 60 from just 24 balls including 22 in the final over to seal the game.
Pakistan vs Australia | 2021 T20 World Cup | Semi Final | Gros Islet
Another PAK-AUS semi-final with another Aussie assault that ended the dream. PAK had a near-perfect 2021 tournament. They were unbeaten in the group stage, defeated India for the first time and came in high confidence against Australia in Dubai for the semi-final.
PAK scored 176-4 and had AUS struggling at 91-5. Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis rebuild. 22 was required in two overs when Shaheen came to deliver. Hasan dropped the catch of Wade in the third ball and what was followed is what everyone already knows; three sixes to finish the game with an over to spare.
The 2021 game was compared a lot to the 2010 semi-final, especially considering that two lefties were the ones who ended with sixes.
New Zealand vs Pakistan | 2010 T20 World Cup | Group Stage | Bridgetown
A low-scoring thriller where Shahid Afridi’s men lost by a solitary run.
The Green Team had restricted the Kiwis to 133-7. Only two PAK batters had scored in double digits. The team were 58-5 in 9.4 overs. But thanks to Salman Butt and Abdul Razzaq, they managed to recover. Razzaq was dismissed in the 18th over but Butt held on. The final over saw PAK needed 11 from 6 which came down to 2 from 1. Abdur Rehman was on strike and played a ridiculous shot where he found the fielder in the deep, losing the match by one run.
India vs Pakistan | 2022 T20 World Cup | Group Stage | Melbourne
Before 2021 (And after 2007), Pakistan had lost to India comprehensively in all T20 World Cup events. After beating them for the first time in 2021, the 2022 promised to live up to its hype. And it did.
Setting India to chase 160, Pakistan bowlers were breathing fire and had the Men in Blue limping at 31-4. Only one man was standing in Pakistan’s victory, Virat Kohli. Fair to say, Hardik Pandya deserves some credit for hanging with Virat till the end.
48 was needed in the final three overs and both batters charged. Virat’s sixes to Rauf in the final two balls of the 19th set India needed 16 to win. The first three balls saw a wicket, a run and two runs, bringing the equation down to 13 off three.
A complete madness followed. Nawaz, bowling the last over, delivered a high full toss which resulted in no-ball and the equation came down to six off three. When two were needed from one, Nawaz had a brain fade moment and bowled wide deliver to Ashwin and the Indian spinner needed a nudge to hit one run off the final ball, which he did and the rest is history.
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | 2022 T20 World Cup | Group Stage | Perth
Following India’s heartbreak was Zimbabwe’s shocking defeat. Chasing just 131, PAK were cruising along just fine when they were 88-3. Shadabd and Haider Ali’s dismissals off consecutive deliveries pushed PAK back.
In the final over, 11 was required. Nawaz and Wasim Jnr brought the equation down to three off two. Nawaz was dismissed and Shaheen could not complete those three runs. Managed only one and Pakistan lost by one run.
Also Read: All the Miracles and Upsets in T20 World Cup 2022
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | 2012 T20 World Cup | Semi Final | Colombo
Another semi-final defeat, this time in the hands of the hosts Sri Lanka in 2012.
Sri Lanka only posted 139 from their 20 overs as it was not easy to score on such a wicket. But 139 proved to be more than enough as the Hafeez-led Pakistan side lost the game by 16 runs. Three batters managed in double digits but only one batter in the whole match had a strike rate above 130.
New Zealand vs Pakistan | 2016 T20 World Cup | Group Stage | Mohali
A game where fans tore their heads out when they watched Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal play Test cricket on a flat wicket.
Martin Guptill’s 80 powered New Zealand to 180. But Pakistan were all set to chase this game especially the way Sharjeel opened the innings. PAK were 65 in 5.2 overs with Sharjeel himself at 47 from 25 balls when Adam Milne got the vital breakthrough.
But what was followed was a moment of madness. In the next 7 overs, before Afridi arrived, PAK scored 31 runs. Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal played a test knock there. Not sure who they were trying to impress. Both combined scored 54 from 58 balls with 3 boundaries as PAK lost the game by 22 runs.
West Indies vs Pakistan | 2014 T20 World Cup | Group Stage | Sydney
A virtual qualifier where the winner takes the semis spot. Until the 14th over, Pakistan had dominated the West Indies. 81-5 when Dinesh Radmin fell. From that point onwards, it was all West Indies who dominated Pakistan.
First, Daren Sammy and DJ Bravo scored 82 runs in the last five overs, helping their side to put on 166. Then, their bowlers gunned down Pakistan for just 82 runs, winning the match by 84 runs to qualify for the knockouts.
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