Pakistani Journalist Calls Florida Groundstaff ‘Clueless And Pathetic’ After Babar Azam & Co. Exits T20 World Cup 2024 – WATCH

Florida: Soon after the Pakistan were knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Friday, a Pakistani journalist went on a rant and accused the local groundsmen at the Lauderhill ground of intentionally dampening the outfield and dampening the outfield to help co-hosts USA advance to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. Following a washout between USA and Ireland on Friday, the debutants advanced to the next stage of the competition and joined India Group A in the second round.

The city of Florida has been receiving incessant rainfall for the past few days and Friday was no different. As the game ended in a washout, both teams got a point each. Thus, USA qualified for Super 8 with five points from four games. With three wins in as many games, India had already qualified.

Pakistan, with just two points from three games so far have been eliminated. They have a match to play against Ireland on June 16 in Florida. It was also the first time in the history of the tournament that Pakistan got eliminated after just playing three games.

Frustrated at the game being washed out, the journalist, who is currently in USA to cover the tournament, called the groundsmen ‘clueless and pathetic’. In a video, that went viral, the scribe shared his ordeal and said the ground staff was pouring water on the ground, unaware of the fact it is dampening the already-damped outfield.

Groundstaff intentionally making USAs Qualification easier.. pic.twitter.com/oSNDCR9Ysu

— Sohaib Iqbal (@Sohaib_Iqbaal) June 14, 2024

He also questioned the credentials of the ground staff and accused them of intentionally delaying the start of the game so that USA can go through. “Do you know what visuals I saw inside the ground? I saw a local groundsman checking the outfield with his hand and it got dirty due to the dampness of the ground. To my surprise, he washed his hand then and there itself,” he said in the video.