The World Cup victory against Pakistan on Thursday went mostly unnoticed by many Americans, but it was deeply felt in the cricket-obsessed nation.
As Jaffer Ahmed sat in a café in Karachi, Pakistan, sipping on milk tea, he discussed with his friends the unexpected loss of the national cricket team to the United States. Expressing disbelief and embarrassment, Ahmed questioned how a country like Pakistan, with its rich cricketing history, could suffer a defeat against a nation that doesn't have cricket deeply ingrained in its culture.
Losing to the United States in the Men’s T20 World Cup was a devastating blow for Pakistan, where cricket is a huge part of the national culture. The national team's victory in 1992 under Imran Khan's leadership elevated the sport to a significant role in the country. While many Americans may not have realized the significance of their win, it weighed heavily on the cricket-loving fans in Pakistan. They were seen on the streets, trying to make sense of the defeat and watching the match highlights in disbelief.
Muhammad Sagheer, 32, expressed his disappointment in the Pakistani cricket team's performance, stating that they should be learning from the U.S.A. instead of losing to them. The fans were also frustrated with the team's mistakes, with Feroz Shah, 30, calling their game a disaster due to dropped catches and missed opportunities. Aatif Nawaz, a British-Pakistani cricket commentator, added that recent changes in leadership within the team and national cricket board have affected morale and contributed to Pakistan's struggles on the field.
The recent loss for Pakistan in the World Cup was a tough blow for their fans, who are not used to seeing their team struggle. The United States, a relatively new contender in international cricket, pulled off a major upset by defeating Pakistan, a much higher-ranked team. This victory was a significant achievement for the U.S. team and a disappointment for Pakistan.
Waqar Younis, a former Pakistan cricket star, expressed his disappointment in Pakistan's performance, describing the team as exhausted and helpless. Another former great, Wasim Akram, called their performance pathetic. On the other hand, cricket's popularity in the United States is growing, with over $1 billion invested in expanding the sport nationwide. The domestic league had its inaugural season last year, with team owners including Microsoft's chief executive, Satya Nadella. The United States now has a chance of qualifying for the next round of the tournament, a possibility that was initially seen as unlikely at the start of the World Cup.
Many Americans took to social media to express their excitement over the U.S. cricket team's win against Pakistan. They were particularly impressed by the fact that one of the star players, Saurabh Netravalkar, also has a successful career as a senior engineer at a software company. Saurabh's employer, Oracle, also expressed their pride in him and the team's accomplishment. Team captain Monank Patel expressed his pride in the team's achievement, especially in defeating Pakistan.
"Despite the recent loss to the U.S.A., we still have a chance to beat India," Ahmed responded confidently. "We have a strong team and anything is possible in sports. Let's have faith in our players and support them wholeheartedly." The group nodded in agreement, understanding that the upcoming match would be a tough challenge but also an opportunity for their country to unite and show their strength on the global stage.