So, Pakistan has been eliminated from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s exit also means that the USA, also the co-hosts of the tournament are through to the Super 8s. Once the match against Ireland was called off in Florida on Friday, Pakistan’s fate was sealed. The social media was abuzz with Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. Bye Bye Pakistan was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans taking a dig at Babar Azam and company for their below par performance.
Also Read: What is Team India’s record in Super 8s?
Fans on X Say, Bye Bye Pakistan
Cricket fans around the world were vocal on social media platforms, once Pakistan was eliminated from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The hashtag Bye Bye Pakistan was trending on Twitter, where several videos, comments and dig were directed towards the Pakistan men’s national cricket team, chairman of selectors Wahab Riaz and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Here are some of the reactions:
Pakistan under Babar Azam‘s leadership had a poor outing in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Out of the four Group A matches, Pakistan could win just one, that too against minnows Canada. While the match against Ireland was washed out due to rain, their defeat to the USA cost them the Super 8s berth.
Even the game against India, Pakistan were the favourites to win, at the half-way stage. Thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s magical spell, Pakistan lost the match by 6 runs, and with it their hopes of a Super 8 qualification also went out of the window.
Former Cricket Greats React
At the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pakistan made it to the final. Since then, the men’s national cricket team hasn’t given too many reasons for their fans to celebrate.
- Group Stage Exit in Asia Cup 2023
- Group Stage Exit in World Cup 2023
- Group Stage Exit in T20 World Cup 2024
Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram couldn’t hide his emotions after team’s loss against India in New York. The video has already gone viral, as he points out Pakistan team making basic errors, against top quality sides in the ICC tournaments.
Not just Wasim Akram, former Pakistan great Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, and several former cricketers also took to X, expressing their disappointment.
Double Jolt for Babar Azam and company
If the news of elimination wasn’t enough, there was more sad news in store for Pakistan cricket team. An early elimination from the 2024 T20 World Cup means, Pakistan will not get an automatic qualification for the next edition. This means Pakistan will have to play qualification to participate in the 2026 T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
Truth be told, Pakistan’s chances of making it to the Super 8s ended after their defeat to India. However, they could never recover after the loss to the USA. At the start of the T20 World Cup, they were expected to make it to the Super 8s and maybe to the semis. However, that dream is over. Who is responsible for this poor performance?
Also what’s next for Pakistan cricket? Maybe a change in leadership, maybe a few senior players making ways for youngsters. That might be a temporary solution, but if Pakistan really wants to make it back to the top of the summit, they will need more than just individual brilliances to survive in the ICC tournaments.
The Qudrat ka Nizam was delivered in Florida, as the writing was always on the wall, for Pakistan.
