Top 3 biggest upsets in ICC events

ICC events are where cricket peaks as teams from across continents assemble at a venue or two with stacked squads and push for a place in history. While fans eagerly await in anticipation to witness the top-tier teams square off against each other, at times even the most lopsided of contests, based on the strengths of sides on paper, spring a surprise or two.

There have been quite a few occasions when a side, expected to be no match for its mightier opponent on paper, ended up sending shockwaves through the cricketing universe, leaving fans bewildered and pundits scratching their heads.

Here's a look at the three biggest upsets in the history of ICC events:

#3 Afghanistan vs Australia (ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024)

There is plenty of beef between Afghanistan and Australia, and most of it has stemmed from the latter's refusal to play a bilateral against the former due to the absence of Afghanistan's representation in women's cricket.

While Afghanistan have made rapid strides in world cricket in the past decade, beating Australia at an ICC event was always going to be a herculean task for them. They came so close to pulling it off at the 2023 ODI World Cup only to be denied by a phenomenal double hundred by Glenn Maxwell.

But Afghanistan were nipping at Australia's heels and their moment in the sun arrived on June 22 at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent & Grenadines. Playing a high-pressure T20 World Cup fixture, Afghanistan posted 148 for the loss of six wickets despite an 118-run opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60 off 49) and Ibrahim Zadran (51 off 48).

Maxwell (59 off 41) threatened once again, but Afghanistan had the last laugh as they restricted the Aussies to 127 in 19.2 overs and won by 21 runs: their only win over Australia to date in any format.

#2 Bangladesh vs India (2007 ODI World Cup)

This has to go down as one of the most painful days for an Indian cricket fan. Tipped to make it to the knockouts, India stumbled at the first step when they were humbled by Bangladesh at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain on March 17.

After electing to bat first, India lurched their way to 191 in 49.3 overs as their towering line-up failed to withstand the challenge. Sourav Ganguly (66 off 129) and Yuvraj Singh (47 off 58) were the only ones who steadied the ship.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza (4/38), Abdur Razzak (3/38) and Mohammad Rafique (3/35) won plenty of praise for their excellent bowling displays.

The chase was not going to be a fairly straightforward one, but three Bangladesh batters (Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan) stood out and scored fifties to take Bangladesh over the line with nine balls and five wickets to spare.

#3 Pakistan vs Bangladesh (1999 ODI World Cup)

Many experts to date believe that the 1999 ODI World Cup was Pakistan's to win, and it doesn't appear to be a lofty claim. Pakistan's squad at the 1999 World Cup had the balance needed to become a champion team.

The batting pedigree of Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, the all-round prowess of Shahid Afridi and Azhar Mahmood and the lethal bowling attack comprising Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and their skipper Wasim Akram.

But Pakistan, despite their riches, were humiliated by Bangladesh as they lost by 62 runs, failing to chase down a paltry target of 224. Seam bowling allrounder Khaled Mahmud was the star for Bangladesh that day. He scored a 34-ball 27 and then claimed 3/31, accounting for Afridi, Inzamam and Saleem Malik.