Twin cities’ cricket fans disappointed at Australia’s elimination in T20 World Cup

2026-02-20 - 21:43

Zimbabwe’s resilience makes it a significant power to deal with in super eight stages Cricket lovers in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday expressed disappointment over Australia’s early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, terming it one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Australia, the former T20 world champions who lifted the title in 2021, were knocked out of the race for the Super Eight stage after suffering unexpected defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in the group phase. Their final group-stage fixture against Oman, played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, turned into a mere formality as both sides had already been eliminated. For many Pakistani fans, the exit of the Kangaroos was hard to digest. Nadeem, a student at Foundation University, told Pakistan Observer that he was heartbroken by Australia’s performance. “They have always been a dominant side in world cricket. Seeing them bow out so early is shocking,” he said, adding that he had expected the former champions to at least make it to the Super Eight stage. Shazia, a student of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), echoed similar sentiments. “An early elimination is simply not up to the mark for a team of Australia’s calibre,” she remarked. “They are known for their resilience and big-match temperament, but this time things did not click for them.” Australia’s defeat to Zimbabwe, in particular, sparked widespread debate on social media. Former cricket greats, including WasimAkram and Ricky Ponting, expressed surprise at how the seasoned Australian side faltered against comparatively lower-ranked teams. However, many also praised Zimbabwe’s spirited performance, noting that the African side had, for the first time, crossed the group-stage hurdle in a major ICC tournament. Ashfaq, a businessman in Sector F-10/4, Islamabad, predicted that Zimbabwe could emerge as a dark horse in the Super Eight stage. “They have shown great team spirit and resilience. If they continue with the same conviction and commitment, I have no doubt they could even make it to the semi-finals,” he said. Cricket fans in the twin cities are now turning their attention to the Super Eight clashes, which begin Saturday with a highly anticipated encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand. While Australia’s exit has left many disappointed, the unpredictable nature of the tournament has also added to the excitement, reinforcing the belief that in T20 cricket, no team can be taken lightly. As the competition intensifies, fans hope that the remaining matches will deliver the thrill and drama that the shortest format of the game is famous for, even if it comes without one of its traditional powerhouses.