Anwar Maqsood, a renowned Pakistani writer and satirist, humorously linked Pakistan’s recent cricket loss to the USA with an alleged condition in the country’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement.
According to Maqsood, this stipulation required Pakistan to lose a cricket match to America, a remark that highlighted his characteristic blend of humour and satire during a conversation about the Pakistan-India match.
The unexpected defeat of the Pakistan cricket team by the USA team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has stunned and bewildered fans, sparking widespread speculation and criticism on social media. This reaction reflects the national disbelief that the well-regarded Pakistani team could lose to a relatively inexperienced American team in such a critical match.
In response to questions on social media about the team’s performance, Maqsood wittily suggested that the IMF might have influenced the match’s outcome as part of their agreements with Pakistan. He also joked about the impending match against India, suggesting that ticket holders might as well sell their tickets at half price, given the unpredictability shown by the Pakistani team.
The Group A match in Dallas saw America’s captain, Monank Patel, win the toss and choose to field, prompting Pakistan to bat first. Pakistan set a target of 159 runs, losing seven wickets over 20 overs, with notable contributions from Captain Babar Azam and Shadab Khan, who scored 44 and 40 runs, respectively.
The drama peaked in the super over, where America set a challenging 19-run target. Pakistan fell short, managing only 13 runs. In a thrilling conclusion, American batsman Nitesh Kumar hit a four off Haris Rauf on the final ball, resulting in a tie that underscored the match’s high stakes and intensity.
