T20 World Cup Stunners: Three upsets rock the tournament in two days

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has been turned upside down in just two days, with three major upsets sending shockwaves through the cricketing world.

USA stun Pakistan in Super Over thriller

The first upset came on the American stage, as the co-hosts, USA, pulled off a historic victory over cricket powerhouse Pakistan.

In a nail-biting finish, the match went to a Super Over, where the USA held their nerve and secured a remarkable win. This victory was also USA’s maiden T20 World Cup win.

This victory marks a significant moment for American cricket, putting them on the map and raising hopes for a potential upset against the number one ranked team, India, in their upcoming encounter.

Watch the highlights of USA's historic win over Pakistan! 💪🏻👏🏻 #USAvPAK

A victory for #TeamIndia could seriously dent Pakistan's chances of qualifying for the #T20WorldCup Super 8s!

Don't miss #INDvPAK | SUN 9 JUN, 6 PM | #T20WorldCupOnStarpic.twitter.com/cUyvQ0KG4c

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 7, 2024

Mumbai-born #SaurabhNetravalkar represented #TeamIndia in the 2009/10 U-19 WC, shifted bases to the USA, became an engineer, and won the game against Pakistan yesterday! 👏🏻

💡: Babar Azam was part of the Pakistan U19 side when they faced India in the same U19 World Cup! 😮… pic.twitter.com/l9hhjyIaoW

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 7, 2024

Canada upset Ireland in Tight Finish

Following suit, Canada also notched their first-ever T20 World Cup victory, defeating Ireland in a tense match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (IST).

Building on a strong batting performance by Nicholas Kirton, Canada’s bowling attack stood firm, denying Ireland the runs needed for victory.

This win adds to the string of surprises in the tournament and highlights Canada’s growing strength in the T20 format.

Afghanistan outplay New Zealand

The final upset of the two-day period saw Afghanistan deliver a masterful performance against tournament favorites, New Zealand.

Capitalizing on New Zealand’s fielding errors, Afghanistan piled on a strong total, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz leading the charge with a brilliant half-century.

#RashidKhan's 4/17 makes it the best bowling figures by a captain in ICC Men's T20 World Cup history! 👏

Significant contributions from #MohammadNabi & #RahmanullahGurbaz help Afghanistan beat the Kiwis ✅

Also, don't miss ➡️ #SLvBAN | LIVE NOW | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/qq3ObrTdRg

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 8, 2024

Their bowling attack then suffocated the Kiwis, restricting them well below the target and securing a convincing victory. This win sends a message to the entire competition and establishes Afghanistan as a serious contender. This triumph was Afghanistan’s first against Kiwis in T20Is.

More to come in T20 World Cup?

The T20 World Cup has only just begun, and these unexpected results have injected a thrilling dose of uncertainty into the tournament.

With several group stage matches still to come, cricket fans can expect more nail-biting encounters and the potential for further upsets as the underdogs continue to challenge the established cricketing giants.