Hyderabad: Pakistan, who won the World Cup in 1992 under the leadership of charismatic Imran Khan, were stunned by minnows Afghanistan in their league game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. This was the third upset of the ongoing Cricket World CUP 2023. For Pakistan, however, it was not the first upset in the history of the ODI World Cup.
In the 1999 World Cup, which was held in England, it was Bangladesh, which caused an upset after they defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in Northampton on May 31. Bangladesh managed to score just 223/9 in their allotted 50 overs but it was their bowlers who rose to the occasion and bundled Pakistan, who had players like Saeed Anwar, Shaheed Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, for a paltry 161. For Bangladesh, Khaled Mahmud was the pick of the bowlers, who returned with fine figures of 3/37.
In the next ODI World Cup held in the West Indies, it was the turn of Ireland, which stunned Pakistan. The venue was Kingston and the day was March 17, 2007. Ireland won the match by three wickets and 32 balls to spare via the Duckworth-Lewis method. Pakistan was bundled out for a partly 132 as Boyd Rankin picked up three wickets and then Ireland rode on Niall O'Brien's responsible 72 off 107 balls. The Pakistan team was led by Inzamam-ul-Haq in the game.
And then came the third upset for the Pakistan side in the ongoing 2023 edition, when they were stunned by Afghanistan at the Chepauk in Chennai.
This was also Pakistan's third successive loss in the ongoing marquee tournament and the road for the Men in Green to reach the semi-finals has become difficult.
Also read: World Cup 2023: Shadab, Iftikhar's cameos guide Pakistan to post 283 run target
Upsets in ODI World Cup:
- 1983 - Zimbabwe beat Australia
- 1992 - Zimbabwe beat England
- 1996 - Kenya beat West Indies
- 1999 - Zimbabwe beat India
- 1999 - Zimbabwe beat South Africa
- 1999 - Bangladesh beat Pakistan
- 2003 - Kenya beat Sri Lanka
- 2007 - Bangladesh beat India
- 2007 - Ireland beat Pakistan
- 2007 - Bangladesh beat South Africa
- 2011 - Ireland beat England
- 2011 - Bangladesh beat England
- 2015 - Ireland beat West Indies
- 2015 - Bangladesh beat England
- 2019 - Bangladesh beat South Africa
- 2019 - Bangladesh beat West Indies
- 2023 - Afghanistan beat England
- 2023 - Netherlands beat South Africa
- 2023 - Afghanistan beat Pakistan
Number of upsets in each World Cup:
- 3 *- 2023
- 3 - 1999
- 3 - 2007
- 2 - 2011
- 2 - 2015
- 2 - 2019
- 1 - 1983
- 1 - 1992
- 1 - 1996
- 1 - 2003
