USA Qualifies For Super 8, Pakistan Exits T20 World Cup 2024 After Abandoned Match

Pakistan exited the T20 World Cup 2024 after the match between the USA and Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida, on Friday, June 14, was abandoned without a toss. The match officials waited for three hours before deciding to call off the game. Despite no rain since 8:30 AM (local time), the match, scheduled to start at 10:30 AM, could not commence due to wet patches near the 30-yard circle.

Several inspections were conducted before a lightning alert forced players and officials to rush to the dressing rooms. Moments later, rain followed, leading the match officials to officially call off the match. As a result, the USA and Ireland shared a point each, causing Babar Azam's Pakistan to crash out of the T20 World Cup 2024.

With five points in four matches, the USA finished behind India in Group A. They defeated Canada in their first match before stunning Pakistan. Pakistan lost to both the USA and India before beating Canada. However, even a win against Ireland would not have helped them qualify for the Super 8. They would finish with four points in four matches even if they won.

As Pakistan exited from the group stage of the white-ball tournament for the second time in eight months, the USA made history by becoming only the seventh associate nation to progress from the second round of T20 World Cups. Ireland (2009), Netherlands (2014), Afghanistan (2016), Namibia (2021), Scotland (2021), and Netherlands (2022) are the other teams to achieve this feat.

The USA, playing their first-ever T20 World Cup, also qualified for the 2026 edition of the ICC showpiece event. They have now joined India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, and Afghanistan in the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup 2024.