Pakistan ranks among the elite cricketing nations globally, boasting a rich history. They have clinched victories in the ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup. However, like any prominent team, the Men in Green have experienced their share of setbacks on the cricket pitch.
There have been significant occasions where lower-ranked teams have stunned Pakistan, often on the grand stage of ICC events. In this compilation, we’ll explore five of the most embarrassing losses endured by Pakistan in cricket history.
#1 USA defeated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024
USA secured their first-ever qualification for the T20 World Cup this year after being granted the hosting rights by the ICC. Few anticipated them to defeat higher-ranked teams, but they surprised by defeating Pakistan in Dallas on Thursday, June 6.
An outstanding fifty by USA captain Monank Patel and a superb Super Over performance by Saurabh Netravalkar propelled the American team to victory over the former T20 World Cup champions.
The regular 20-over match concluded in a tie with both teams scoring 159 runs, leading to USA’s triumph over Pakistan by five runs in the subsequent one-over eliminator.
#2 Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup
Babar Azam’s squad failed to reach the semifinals of the ODI World Cup 2023, with their loss to Afghanistan in the group stage being a significant factor. Afghanistan comfortably chased down a target of 283 runs in Chennai, losing just two wickets in the process.
Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz each scored fifty runs for Afghanistan, guiding them to an eight-wicket victory. Before that, Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique also contributed half-centuries to help Pakistan reach a total of 282/7 in their allotted 50 overs.
#3 Ireland eliminates Pakistan from the 2007 ODI World Cup
Another ODI World Cup setback from the 2007 tournament makes the list. In their debut on the grand stage, Ireland surprisingly dismissed their higher-ranked opponents for a mere 132 runs in Kingston. Boyd Rankin stood out with a three-wicket performance.
However, chasing 133 on a challenging surface posed difficulties. Niall O’Brien led the charge for Ireland, scoring a resilient 72 off 107 balls. His brother Kevin O’Brien remained unbeaten on 16 off 52 deliveries as Ireland reached 133/7 in 41.4 overs. This loss ultimately led to the former world champions’ elimination in the group stage.
#4 Zimbabwe secured a one-run victory over Babar Azam’s team at the T20 World Cup 2022
Pakistan ended up as the second-place team in the 2022 T20 World Cup, despite beginning their campaign with two losses. The first defeat came against arch-rivals India in a thrilling last-ball encounter at MCG.
Shortly after, Babar Azam’s team faced off against Zimbabwe, where the African team effectively defended a target of 131 runs against the formidable Pakistan lineup. Sikandar Raza’s three-wicket performance and Brad Evans’ remarkable final over ensured that the African side restricted their opponents to 129/8, securing victory by a slim margin of one run.
#5 Zimbabwe thrashes Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs in a Test match
Upsets are more common in shorter formats than in Test cricket. However, in 1995, Zimbabwe secured their inaugural Test victory against Pakistan, winning by an innings and 64 runs. In a historic Test in Harare, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs.
Grant Flower’s double century and centuries from Andy Flower and Guy Whittall powered Zimbabwe to a formidable total of 544/4 declared in the first innings. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Heath Streak, restricted Pakistan to 322 in their first innings and then dismissed them for 215 in the second innings, sealing victory.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
