How USA’s T20 World Cup Win over Pakistan will change the Sport

Cricket has never been a big sport in the USA so for that to change, it needed something special.

This was the case when the co-hosts of the T20 World Cup faced off against Pakistan in Texas.

Both sides finished their innings on 159 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, taking the match to a Super Over.

The USA scored 18-1 and pulled off the major upset when Pakistan only reached 13.

It is one of the biggest cricketing upsets in recent times, with entertainment and skill adding to the dramatic match.

The USA played their first T20 international match in 2019 while the 2024 T20 World Cup is the side’s first World Cup, which they are co-hosting.

The USA are ranked 18th in the world behind Nepal and the UAE.

On the other hand, Pakistan were the 2022 finalists and won the tournament in 2009.

The result was not supposed to happen but the upset is fitting given that it happened in the United States, also known as the land of opportunity.

US captain Monank Patel said: “Beating Pakistan is a big achievement.

“It’s a big day for Team USA. Not just for USA, for the USA cricket community too.”

In New York, where many of the tournament’s other matches are being played, the unpredictable pitches have been criticised, resulting in low-scoring affairs.

But Texas has provided the entertainment, proving that cricket in the United States can work and can be exciting.

Aaron Jones’ 10 sixes kickstarted the USA’s campaign in the opener against Canada before a collective team effort helped them produce a stunning triumph against Pakistan.

Former Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate said:

“I’ve got shivers down my spine. Coming from an associate nation myself, I know how difficult this is.

“But what a memorable day and a shot in the arm for USA cricket. If you ever wanted a marketing tool to show Americans what this great game is about, this is it.”

This match could be a game-changer for the sport in the United States, which is home to one of the newest T20 franchise leagues Major League Cricket.

Monank Patel added: “Beating Pakistan in the World Cup is going to open many doors for us.

“Hosting the World Cup in the USA and performing here as a team, it helps us to grow cricket in the USA.”

Pakistan are one of 12 full member nations of the International Cricket Council (ICC) while the USA are an associate member.

This means that along with 93 other countries, they are recognised by the sport’s governing body but do not play Test matches.

Team Spirit

For the USA team, the emotion and the result’s impact were evident in the celebrations.

They battled with Pakistan for the full 40 overs, with nothing to separate the sides after Haris Rauf’s final ball was struck over his head for four by Nitish Kumar.

And after Saurabh Netravalkar closed out the super over, holding his own after conceding an early boundary and bowling a couple of early wides, he was lifted upon his team-mates’ shoulders and paraded around the outfield in front of jubilant fans.

Monank said: “I am so proud of how we played. It was a proper team effort.

“Winning the toss, we knew we had to make sure we utilised conditions and credit to our bowlers for doing that.”

For Pakistan, their tournament is nowhere near over after just one game but after such a poor performance, things are looking bleak for Babar Azam’s side.

Babar said: “If you lose a match, you are always upset. We are not playing well, in fielding, bowling and batting.

“I am upset. As a professional, you have to step up against such a performance or such a team in the batting, in the middle order.

“This is not an excuse that they played well. I think we played badly.”

But they have little time to dwell on the loss with a much-anticipated match against rivals India on June 9, 2024.

Meanwhile, the USA top Group A and will fancy their chances of reaching the Super 8s stage.

What could this mean for Cricket in the US?

The USA’s win is one of the landmark moments in the history of cricket in the country.

Inspired by John Barton King, the Gentleman Of Philadelphia beat the likes of Lancashire, Kent and Surrey during tours in 1904 and 1908.

A private tour to North America organised by Arthur Malley in 1932, which included Don Bradman, saw an Australian side held to several draws including some in the United States.

During the tour, Bradman was famously dismissed for a duck in New York.

A World All-Stars XI captained by Tony Greig, and featuring Garry Sobers, Alan Knott, Gregg Chappell and others, surprisingly lost to an American side, most of whom were originally from the Caribbean, in an exhibition match at Shea Stadium, Queens in front of 8,000 fans.

Joe Lynn, the curator of the United States Cricket Museum at Haverford College, near Philadelphia, said the result was “huge” for cricket in the country.

He said: “This tournament could not have started better from the US perspective.

“To win the first game against Canada was one thing, but beating a full-member nation like Pakistan is something else.

“Perhaps it’s always been a misnomer to say cricket died in the US at the hands of baseball, but I think it’s been in hibernation more than anything else.

“With Major League Cricket and this World Cup, it is a reawakening of sorts.”

The USA’s historic T20 World Cup victory over Pakistan marks a transformative moment in cricket, particularly in America.

This win signifies not just a monumental achievement for the US team but also a potential turning point in the global cricket scene.

This victory is poised to spark increased interest and investment in cricket across the United States, potentially attracting a new generation of fans and players to the sport.

As cricket gains more visibility and support, the infrastructure and development programs within the USA are likely to expand, further solidifying cricket’s presence in the country.

Additionally, this win could encourage other non-traditional cricketing nations to invest in the sport, broadening the competitive landscape of international cricket.