In a stunning upset at the T20 World Cup, Pakistan lost to the USA in a dramatic Super Over, where Mohammad Amir‘s performance came under intense scrutiny. The match, held at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday, saw Amir conceding 18 runs in the Super Over, with three wides and sloppy fielding contributing to Pakistan’s defeat.
Amir, who had earlier redeemed himself after a challenging start, bowled three wides in the Super Over, leading to criticism from various quarters. However, former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja defended Amir, comparing the situation to India’s handling of Ravichandran Ashwin in a similar scenario.
Match Recap
Amir began the match conceding 16 runs in the powerplay but made a strong comeback, giving away just 10 runs in his final two overs. His efforts helped Pakistan claw back into the game, eventually pushing it into a Super Over.
Despite his earlier success, Amir struggled in the Super Over against the USA’s left-handed batsman, Harmeet. Sloppy fielding by Pakistan added to their woes, with seven runs conceded as extras. The USA set a daunting target of 18 runs in the Super Over, which Pakistan failed to chase down.
Ajay Jadeja’s Defense of Amir
In response to the backlash against Amir, Ajay Jadeja drew parallels with Ravichandran Ashwin’s situation during the 2020 T20 World Cup, highlighting the challenges faced by players returning after a long hiatus.
“If you want to sit and analyse that over from Amir, you would say that he is completely out of touch. But think from his point of view. He returned after four years with presumably the captain having a say, like we did with Ravichandran Ashwin. He too returned after four years and was not playing that format. Then you give that player a responsibility like that. He [Amir] is also human. Yes, there was pressure, but it was on others as well. Tell me how many runs were conceded via overthrows? There was sadness, disappointment…but we shouldn’t analyse on that level,” Jadeja said on the YouTube show ‘Caught Behind’.
Babar Azam’s Support for Amir
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, also defended Amir, acknowledging the experience and game awareness of the USA batters.
“He [Amir] is an experienced bowler,” Babar said at the post-match presentation. “He knows how to bowl and we were just trying to bowl according to the field. But I think the US batsmen were smart. Even when the ball went to the keeper, they were running. So I think that thing was a plus point for them in the Super Over.”
Analysis and Reaction
The cricketing world is divided over Amir’s performance, with some experts criticising his lack of control under pressure, while others, like Jadeja and Babar, point to the broader context of his return and the tactical acumen of the USA batters.
The loss marks one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the sport and the rise of emerging cricketing nations like the USA.
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