T20 World Cup Shocker: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand Crash Out

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies witnessed a shocking turn of events as former champions Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and regular contenders New Zealand failed to advance to the Super Eight stage.

Pakistan, alongside India, was expected to comfortably qualify from Group A. However, a Super Over loss to the host nation USA and a failed run chase against India left them one point short of qualification. Sri Lanka and New Zealand, on the other hand, found themselves in groups with multiple favorites. Sri Lanka was grouped with Bangladesh and South Africa, while New Zealand faced two-time champions West Indies and Afghanistan.

Subpar performances and tactical blunders contributed to the downfall of these heavyweights. Pakistan's benching of Tim Southee, the all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is, in a crucial encounter against Afghanistan proved costly. New Zealand's death-over bowling collapse against West Indies effectively eliminated them from the tournament after two losses in their opening games. Sri Lanka, after two losses and a No-Result against Nepal, finished third in their group with three points.

The precarious nature of the pitches in the United States became a point of contention. Pakistan and Sri Lanka felt undone by the bizarre wicket at Nassau County Stadium in New York, believing that different circumstances could have yielded different results. Rain also played spoilsport, denying Sri Lanka and Pakistan their crucial fourth game, which may have altered their fortunes.

Despite the setbacks for these established teams, the tournament has highlighted the rise of cricket in associate nations. The host USA defied expectations by beating Pakistan and qualifying for the Super Eight with five points, thanks to a spirited performance from Saurabh Netravalkar.

Tags: #T20WorldCup, #Pakistan, #SriLanka, #NewZealand, #AssociateNations