USA Cricket and the 2024 T20 World Cup: Beating Pakistan and a New Era

The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies, delivered one of the greatest upsets in cricket history — USA defeated Pakistan, a Full Member and former T20 World Cup winner, in the group stage. The result sent shockwaves around the cricket world and shone a spotlight on cricket's fastest-growing market, demonstrating that the sport has genuine depth and potential in the United States.

USA as Co-Host of the 2024 T20 World Cup

Hosting the T20 World Cup in the USA was a strategic decision by the ICC to grow cricket in North America's largest market. Matches were played at a temporary drop-in pitch facility at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York — a 34,000-seat venue assembled specifically for the tournament. The Dallas and Florida venues also hosted matches. Cricket fever gripped the substantial South Asian diaspora communities across the USA, with tickets selling out rapidly and significant media coverage helping introduce the sport to new American audiences.

The Miracle at Nassau: USA Beat Pakistan

On 6 June 2024, USA faced Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan, a two-time T20 World Cup finalist with some of the world's best fast bowlers, were considered overwhelming favourites. USA won the toss and bowled Pakistan out for 159. The pitch at Nassau was unusually difficult, with uneven bounce creating genuine danger. USA then scored 159 for 3 in a sensational chase — Saurabh Netravalkar taking the crucial wickets and Aaron Jones blazing a vital unbeaten fifty. The match went to a Super Over, which USA won, completing one of the most famous upsets in T20 cricket.

Cricket's Growth in the United States

The USA has a large cricket-playing population driven by South Asian, Caribbean, and British immigrant communities. Major League Cricket (MLC), launched in 2023 as the USA's first major T20 franchise league, has attracted international stars including MS Dhoni (as a team investor), and brought genuine domestic T20 competition to the country for the first time. The USA's participation in the 2024 WC was their first, having qualified through the Americas region. Their squad included players from a variety of backgrounds, including former domestic cricketers from India, Pakistan, and the West Indies who became US citizens.

• USA qualified for first T20 World Cup: 2024
• Defeated Pakistan by 1 run in Super Over (6 June 2024)
• Nassau County International Cricket Stadium: temporary 34,000-capacity venue for the tournament
• Major League Cricket (MLC): USA's domestic T20 league launched in 2023
• USA ICC Associate status holder, working toward Full Member qualification

What Next for USA Cricket?

The 2024 World Cup provided USA cricket with the platform and exposure it needed. The ICC has invested significantly in cricket infrastructure in the USA, and the success of MLC in its first two seasons suggests a viable domestic league can sustain the sport's growth. If the USA can secure Full Member status — which would require consistent competitive performance and meeting ICC governance and infrastructure standards — it would open up a market of 340 million people to Test cricket for the first time, a potentially transformative moment for the global game.