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.