A U.S. team made up in part of men who moonlight as cricketers between their day jobs, advanced through the group stage of the T20 World Cup at the first attempt, knocking defending champion Pakistan out of the tournament after their game against Ireland was called off on Friday. After wins over neighbors Canada and powerhouse Pakistan in their first two matches, the U.S. advanced to the T20 Super Eight stage along with India after their final group game was called off. The cancellation forced powerhouse Pakistan out of the tournament they won in 2009, but the U.S.’ advancement to the next stage helped grow cricket in the Land of Opportunity.
The USA finished the group stage with five points from four matches, while Pakistan could reach a maximum of four points if they win their final match against Ireland.
Pakistan fell just short of the target of 120 in a tight defeat to India in New York on Sunday, after suffering a shock defeat to the USA in the Super Over in the opening match in Dallas.
The successive losses had already ended Pakistan’s chances of progressing to the Super Eights, complicating the global tournament once again with an unpredictable Pakistan once again coming up short.
The United States is co-hosting the tournament with the West Indies as part of the ICC’s ambitious plans to promote the sport in the region, and if the country’s performance so far is any indication, the local team is serious about getting NFL, MLB and NBA-loving Americans to consider watching cricket in the near future.
The USA started the tournament with a convincing win over Canada, trailing by nearly 200 runs, shocked Pakistan in the biggest upset of the T20 World Cup, and then gave tough favourites India a tough time, but the starting point of the team’s rise in the competition was a morale-boosting T20I series win over Bangladesh just before the final.
The U.S. team is made up of eight cricketers of Indian descent, most of them on temporary H1-B visas that allow companies to hire employees overseas. They are trying to revive the sport 180 years after India hosted the first-ever international cricket match between the United States and Canada at St. George Cricket Club in New York in 1844 — 33 years to the day before England and Australia played their first Test match.
The Florida state where Lauderhill is located was hit by tropical thunderstorms that brought constant rain and flooding, making Friday’s game much less likely.
But even if the match had been played, the USA would have been buoyed by two big wins and a spirited effort against India and would have been confident of beating Ireland and progressing to the Super Eights.
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