'Big Upset': Pakistanis Troll Their Own Team Despite First T20 World Cup Win Against Canada

Pakistan finally secured their first victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, overcoming Canada by seven wickets in New York on Tuesday. However, the win didn’t quell the frustration of fans, who were dismayed by the team’s sluggish Net Run Rate (NRR), as it took Pakistan 17.3 overs to chase a modest target of 107. Despite a commendable bowling effort that saw Canada restricted to 106/7 in 20 overs—thanks to standout performances from Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir (two wickets each) and support from Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf (one wicket each)—the Pakistani batters failed to accelerate at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

The chase, which should have been straightforward, turned into a laborious affair for the Men in Green. Saim Ayub, replacing Iftikhar Ahmed, crawled to six runs off 12 balls. His opening partner, Rizwan, who had already faced criticism for a sluggish 44-ball 31 against India, made a tepid start again, scoring nine off 14 balls. The pitch’s variable bounce contributed to Pakistan’s troubles, and they found themselves in a precarious position at 21/1 after five overs.

It wasn’t until the sixth over that Pakistan began to show some intent. Skipper Babar Azam joined Rizwan at the crease, and the duo managed to rotate the strike and occasionally find the boundary, stitching together a 63-run partnership for the second wicket. Azam’s run-a-ball 33 ended in the 15th over, followed by Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal for 4 off 6 in the 18th over. Rizwan, however, held his ground, scoring his 29th T20I half-century and celebrating as if it were a monumental achievement, eventually steering Pakistan to victory.

Also Read: ‘Embarrassing’: Pakistan Cricket Fans Troll Their Own Team After Shocking Defeat to India

The fans’ dissatisfaction was palpable. Both Azam and Rizwan faced criticism for their lack of urgency, crucial for improving the NRR, especially in the later stages of the T20 World Cup. Pakistani supporters mocked the team’s lack of desperation to finish the game quickly.

“The Audacity of Rizwan to celebrate 52(52) when the req rr was around 5 and the team needed to boost their NRR,” one fan posted on ‘X’. Another lamented, “Pathetic approach. Not even caring for the NRR!  5 are extras. Take  them out, Pakistan has scored 9 runs after 3 overs.”

Memes soon followed…

Although Pakistan needed this victory against Canada to keep their Super 8 phase hopes alive, they still require favourable results from other teams to advance.