Team USA’s performance in the group stage showed that the series wins against Bangladesh and Canada before the tournament were no flukes after all.
Rain lashed the carefully manicured grass in the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida on Friday. Not a single ball was bowled in the match between hosts United States and Ireland before the game was called off due to the weather.
This was to be the last game for the USA in the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. But this will not be the last time they will compete in the tournament they are co-hosting with the West Indies.
The debutant USA team, marshalled by Monank Patel, secured a Super Eight berth at the T20 World Cup, alongside India in Group A after picking up a point from the abandoned match against Ireland.
While some hearts fluttered, some shattered. Last year’s finalists Pakistan were knocked out – their undercooked and mercurial nature is to be blamed. But it is also as a result of the unexpected rise of the USA team in the tournament.
Following their series triumphs over Bangladesh and Canada in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, USA demonstrated that their pre-tournament success was no flash in the pan, when they shocked Pakistan at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
The hosts had recorded a win on T20 World Cup debut with their impressive come-from-behind victory over Canada in their tournament opener, but they showcased seasoned professionalism to narrowly defeat Pakistan – a two-time finalist and the 2009 winners.
