'An IMF-sanctioned loan is due' - Satirist Anwar Maqsood's hilarious denial for Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2024 loss to USA goes viral

Pakistan (PAK) had a disastrous outing against the newbies, United States of America (USA) in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on (Thursday) June 6. The former champions were outdone by the minnows in a thrilling Super Over. USA levelled Pakistan’s score of 159 before posting a whopping 18 runs in the Super Over. The Men in Green failed to chase down the target and managed just 13 runs in reply. 

Criticism started flowing from every corner as the Green Shirts were at the receiving end of the biggest upset of the T20 World Cup so far. Joining the bandwagon is Pakistan’s famous poet and satirist, Anwar Maqsood. Maqsood has jovially labelled that Pakistan succumbed to USA to get aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). For the unversed, the IMF is a global organisation that provides financial aid to countries in need.

"They [Pakistan] were forced to lose. An IMF-sanctioned loan is due. We haven't received the grant. It might as well have been a condition, 'Lose to America, then we'll give the money.' I can't think of any other reason. The Pakistanis who have bought the tickets [for the game], they, I think, will resell them at half the price," said Maqsood in a viral video. 

Check out Maqsood's satirical take on Pakistan’s loss here:

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USA played better than us in all three departments: Babar Azam

Pakistan will take on India in their next T20 World Cup game on June 9 at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. The match is a do-or-die game for the Babar Azam-led side and a loss would further dent their Super 8 stage hopes. After the loss, the Pakistan skipper credited his spinners cost them the game. The Pakistan spinners failed to pluck any wickets on a pitch that had moisture throughout the game.

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“First 6 overs while batting we didn’t capitalise. Back-to-back wickets always put you on the back foot, as a batter you need to step up and build partnerships. We were not up to the mark in the first 6 overs with the ball. Our spinners also did not take wickets in the middle overs so these things cost us. Very hard, all credit to USA, they played better than us in all three departments. Little bit of moisture in the pitch, it was also two-paced. As a professional you need to assess the conditions,” said Babar during the post-match presentation.