Pakistan eliminated after washout in Florida takes USA through to Super Eights of T20 World Cup

LAUDERHILL (Agencies): USA qualified for the Super Eight stage in their maiden T20 World Cup appearance, after their final group game against Ireland was washed out in Florida on Friday. The no-result gave USA five points, which was enough for a second-place finish behind India in Group A. There was heavy rain in Florida all week and the outfield in Lauderhill was extremely wet on Friday morning. There wasn’t enough time to get the outfield ready for play before the rain returned to end any chances of the match beginning. USA had begun their campaign with a victory against Canada in Dallas, and then they upset Pakistan in a Super Over to become strong contenders to qualify for the Super Eight. Though they were then beaten by India, USA came to Florida needing only one point from the match against Ireland to qualify. The result also ensured that USA would be among the automatic qualifiers for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Friday’s washout eliminated Pakistan, Canada and Ireland from Group A, and all three teams are scheduled to play in Florida over the weekend, weather permitting. Canada play India on Saturday, while Ireland take on Pakistan on Sunday. Ireland are the only team in Group A without a win yet, having lost to India and Canada before the abandonment against USA.

For Pakistan, though, a torrid tournament culminated in a hasty exit under gloomy skies that epitomised the grim nature of their World Cup campaign. They arrived in the USA with no warm-up games scheduled, and most of their practice sessions were cancelled due to rain. Their unfamiliarity was punished by the home team in their opening fixture as USA pipped them in the Super Over, before Pakistan fell apart chasing 120 against India, losing by six runs. That left them depending on other results, most significantly the outcome of this particular game in Lauderhill between USA and Ireland. An Irish win would have kept Pakistan alive, with any other outcome giving USA an unassailable lead over Pakistan in the points tally. Pakistan’s only win so far has been a seven-wicket triumph over Canada. They still have one game left as they play Ireland ––– who were also eliminated as a result of this washout ––– on Sunday.

However, this does not mean they will have to play the qualifiers to secure a place at the next T20 World Cup, with their current T20I ranking ––– seventh ––– sufficient to guarantee a spot at the tournament in 2026, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This is the earliest Pakistan have ever been knocked out of a T20 World Cup, having played just three games before their fate was sealed. They also suffered group-stage eliminations in 2014 and 2016, but reached at least the semi-finals on every other occasion. No side has reached as many finals as Pakistan (England are joint-top with three), and Pakistan won the title in 2009.