Wasim Akram, a former Pakistan cricket captain, recently offered his candid thoughts on his country’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, along with high praise for the resurgent United States of America (USA), which made an impressive tournament debut.
But it was a mixed bag for Pakistan, who were out of the T20 World Cup after a while of playing in the tournament. Though they lost to India, they succumbed to a narrow loss to the USA and a rain-affected draw against Ireland to end their campaign.
USA’s Impressive Debut in T20 World Cup
The USA defeated Canada and then Pakistan, both crucial wins that helped them reach the Super 8 stage. While they were outplayed by India, the USA earned plaudits for their strength of character and attacking style. Wasim Akram was full of praise for what the USA had achieved, pointing out the significance of the USA winning at global cricket. ‘Congratulations to Team USA!
That this has happened so quickly underscores that the game is truly global now. ‘By the way, it’s a great, great moment for cricket,’ said Wasim Akram in a video uploaded by the ICC. Those comments speak to the USA’s growth and failure to contend globally.
Wasim Akram’s Praise for USA’s Achievement
Wasim Akram, however, was left disillusioned by Pakistan’s elimination. They [the USA] should be there. They had won the big game against Pakistan, and Akram fired back at Pakistan, failing to win when it counted. The loss to the USA, in particular, hurt, only underscoring Pakistan’s labored performance in this event.
Their progression through the Super 8s not only extends the USA’s T20 World Cup run this year but also secures them a place in the 2026 edition of the tournament. This is a significant achievement for USA Cricket and a turning point in the development of cricket in the USA as they look to build a sustainable foundation for their cricket ecosystem.
Pakistan’s Elimination and Wasim Akram’s Critique
Instead, Pakistan has some time for soul-searching. Akram used the comments to suggest his belief that there needed to be some changes made in order to make Pakistan competitive again on the world stage. The fact that one bad game can send you packing is a swift kick to the groin that T20 cricket never lets you forget.
Akram’s comments highlighted how the T20 World Cup would throw up an anomaly such as the USA, which, despite having a number of seasoned cricketers, also meant the cream of the cricketing powers would be vulnerable. Its format sprinkles some surprises and upsets into an already intriguing but unpredictable tournament.
The early exit of Pakistan and the rise of the USA are the success stories of the tournament, as they indicate the incredible highs and lows that it is capable of producing. The T20 World Cup promises another phase where the global cricket fraternity has their eyes set with baited anticipation as every match is sure to add an element of drama towards a new T20 World Series winner.
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