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14 things you need to know before traveling to Pakistan

Sep 2, 2023 • 9 min read

Pakistan offers amazing adventures but it pays to read up on the challenges © Dave Primov / Shutterstock

Pakistan is one of the world’s great surprises, with an incredible diversity of scenery – from the world’s biggest mountain glaciers to the sparkling waters of the Indus River – alongside some of the most beautiful forts, mosques and archaeological sites in the Subcontinent. It is the cultural bridge between India and Central Asia and home to some of the most hospitable people you’ll ever meet.

It would, however, be fair to say that Pakistan has a mixed reputation beyond its borders. The country is beset with economic, political and security problems, but much has changed security-wise in recent years. An incredible welcome is guaranteed here, but this is also a destination that requires a bit of research in order to travel with confidence. Start your planning with the following essential travel tips.

1. Choose the right season for the areas you are visiting

Travel in Pakistan is strongly affected by the seasons . The summer months of July and August are the best time to visit the high mountains of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges in the north, but this is also the busiest time for domestic tourism and it’s incredibly hot elsewhere in the country. If you want to explore the center, south and west of the country, consider a visit in spring (April and May) or autumn (October and November), especially if you don’t plan on going trekking. October brings fabulous fall colors to places like the Hunza Valley, whereas winter (November to February) is the best time to explore central and southern Pakistan.

Festivals worth planning your trip around include the Shandur Polo Festival in the second weekend of July, held atop the mountain pass between Hunza and Chitral, and the Chilam Joshi spring festival in the Kalash Valley in mid-May.

2. You’ll probably need a visa and letter of invitation to visit Pakistan

Most foreigners need a visa to enter Pakistan but you can apply online through the immigration department’s slightly glitchy e-visa system . You will also need a letter of invitation from a local hotel, your Pakistani host or a Pakistani travel agent to secure a visa, so give yourself enough time to get this document in place. Even if you don't plan on taking a tour, travel agencies can provide a letter of invitation for a fee. Contact your local Pakistani embassy or high commission for the latest information. 

3. Be prepared for some challenges if you travel during Ramadan

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan brings a specific set of challenges for travelers. Most Pakistani Muslims avoid eating or drinking between dawn and dusk during this holy month, and most restaurants close during the day, with offices often working reduced hours. You’ll need to be fairly self-sufficient when it comes to food during daylight hours and you should avoid eating in public during the fasting period. This said, evenings are especially lively during Ramadan, as the devout break their daily fast with blowouts in local restaurants.

The dates for Ramadan shift annually according to the Islamic lunar calendar and sightings of the moon, and the festival moves forward by 11 days each year, relative to the Gregorian calendar; in 2024, the festival should start around 10 March.

4. Get a Pakistani SIM card to use the local taxi apps

Public Wi-Fi is not all that common outside of larger cities in Pakistan, so it’s useful to bring an unlocked smartphone for mobile browsing. Buy a local SIM card from the main customer service center for your chosen operator, in whichever town you happen to be in. Travelers recommend Zong , Telenor or Jazz for central Pakistan, or the government-owned SCOM for the mountainous northern area of Gilgit-Baltistan .

With a local SIM and phone number, you should be able to use local taxi apps such as Uber and its local equivalent Careem , which will save you both time and money, compared to flagging down local taxis in big cities such as Islamabad and Lahore .

5. Bring plenty of photocopies of your passport

There are lots of checkpoints in Pakistan where you'll need to show your identity documents, so bring lots of photocopies of your passport’s information pages and Pakistan visa, and always travel with the original passport on your person. You’ll find yourself handing over these copies regularly on long-distance road trips, including when traveling on the Karakoram Highway . 

6. Enjoy the local hospitality (but don’t abuse it)

Culture and customs can vary widely as you move from region to region in Pakistan but in general, you’ll find most Pakistanis to be extremely friendly and hospitable. Conversations, cups of chai and even dinner invitations flow easily, and you can expect to participate in hundreds of selfies.

Hospitality is so integral to Pakistani culture that many locals feel obliged to offer to pay for a foreigner’s meal or bus tickets, even if money is short. You may have to turn down these invitations multiple times to avoid burdening anyone unnecessarily. If you do share a meal in Pakistan be sure to pass and accept food with your right hand only; the left hand should not be used for eating or shaking hands. 

7. Women travelers might face some challenges in Pakistan

For the most part, Pakistan is a conservative, male-dominated society, and this can pose some challenges for female travelers. Women and men don’t mix much in public, and women generally sit in segregated areas on public buses and trains and, often, in restaurants. Attitudes towards foreign women can be protective and curious but women traveling alone may face some suspicion, and sexual harassment can sometimes be a risk in crowds. Special rules for women also apply at some religious sites.

For solo women travelers traveling through Pakistan, it helps to already have some experience of travel in other Islamic countries. Women traveling with a male companion generally face fewer obstacles. On the plus side, women travelers can gain insights into family dynamics and the lives of Pakistani women, which are completely off-limits to male travelers. And in some situations, foreign women may have unique access to both the male and female worlds.

8. Invest in a shalwar kameez to travel like a local

Pakistan’s national dress is the shalwar kameez , a garnet resembling a long shirt worn over wide, baggy trousers, popular with both men and women. It's worth investing in a set if you are going to be traveling for any length of time in Pakistan. The shalwar kameez is supremely practical and comfortable in this climate – you’ll also blend in nicely with the crowd, and locals will respect you for sharing in their culture. Women should also add a dupatta scarf to cover their hair when visiting mosques and other religious sites.

9. Dial down public displays of affection

Many Pakistanis are socially conservative, and public displays of affection between men and women – including kissing, touching and even holding hands in public – are frowned on. Attitudes towards LGBTIQ+ people can also be quite negative, and same-sex relationships are illegal, so Pakistan is not a good place for openly  LGBTIQ+ people to travel . It is not unusual for Pakistani men to hold hands or drape arms around each other, but this is generally platonic. 

10. Treat bargaining as a lighthearted sport

Haggling is acceptable, commonplace and often necessary in Pakistan, but it is best approached as a lighthearted social exchange rather than a life-or-death struggle, as some travelers treat it when traveling in Asia. The goal is for both purchaser and seller to walk away happy. 

When bargaining, respond to the first price quoted with a lower offer, then work back and forth until you reach a price you can both agree on. If you can afford it, avoid haggling over small sums – local people are often poorly paid and financially insecure, and overpaying by a few rupees won’t make a big dent in your wallet.  

11. Be aware of the no-go areas

The security situation can vary widely as you travel around Pakistan. Potentially dicey areas include parts of rural Sindh, some neighborhoods in Karachi , the area of Indus Kohistan close to Abbottabad (where Osama Bin Laden lived in hiding until 2011), parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan , and all of Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir provinces.

In general, you are unlikely to stumble into a danger zone because foreigners require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to visit such places, and you won’t be given one of these without excellent local contacts. The safest parts of the country are central Punjab Province and the area north of Gilgit, extending as far as the Chinese border along the Karakoram Highway . Check out the latest travel advisory information from your home government before you travel. 

While the risk is small, terrorist attacks and kidnappings do take place in Pakistan, and street crime can be an issue in parts of Karachi. Stay alert, exercise caution, and heed local advice on problem areas. Be aware that Sufi and Shia shrines are sometimes targeted by extremists, so visiting these locations can bring a slightly elevated risk.

12. Don’t panic if you get an armed escort

The Pakistani government is keen to protect the nation’s tourism industry, and officials sometimes insist that tourists take an armed guard to visit certain locations. You don’t have to pay for these guards, but the use of their services is mandatory. 

Some travelers find the guards somewhat constraining but their presence is usually just a precaution. You may be given a police escort in places such as Swat, the Kalash Valley and the scenic Fairy Meadows hiking area (on the northern flanks of Nanga Parbat peak).

13. Get travel insurance (and read the small print)

Good travel insurance is important for travel to Pakistan, but be aware that most policies won’t cover you for areas where your home government advises "against all travel." For example, in 2023, the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office was advising against all travel to Swat and Peshawar, amongst other destinations. Check the latest government travel advisories for up-to-date information and plan your itinerary accordingly.  

14. Give some thought to potential problems before you come

Beyond security issues, natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes are unfortunately common at times in Pakistan, while power cuts are a smaller but more frequent occurrence. Monitor the local and international media for news on problem areas, and if you get caught in a natural disaster, follow the guidance of the authorities.

In terms of personal health, intestinal problems are the most common complaints among foreign tourists; the two golden rules are don’t drink the tap water and be wary of pre-cooked food. Eating from busy stalls and restaurants where food is freshly cooked is the way to go. 

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Saurabh Netravalkar: The engineer who bowled USA to famous win over Pakistan in T20 World Cup

N EW DELHI: Where dreams are woven with every delivery, Saurabh Netravalkar etched his name in history with a spellbinding performance that propelled Team USA to a stunning victory over former champions Pakistan in Dallas in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

READ ALSO: Ex-India U-19 star. Software engineer. US cricket captain

While defending 18 runs in the Super Over, the cricketer-turned-engineer Netravalkar defied all odds and shattered the expectations of hundreds and thousands of Pakistanis on Thursday.

READ ALSO: Shocker! Pakistan record one of the worst powerplay totals against USA in T20 World Cup history

ALSO SEE: T20 World Cup Schedule

READ ALSO: Pakistan captain Babar Azam overtakes Virat Kohli to become...

The Past: Babar vs Netravalkar

In 2010, Netravalkar donned the Indian jersey at the U19 World Cup, where a young Babar's Pakistan dashed their hopes. The loss was a bitter pill.

Fast forward 14 years, Netravalkar, now a cornerstone of the USA team, scripted a poetic reversal at the 2024 T20 World Cup . Bowling a sensational Super Over, he led the USA to a stunning victory over Babar's Pakistan.

Early Struggles

Born in Mumbai, India, Netravalkar's journey began with a love for the game that burned brighter than the city's neon lights. A part of the India U19 setup and a domestic cricketer for Mumbai, he faced the harsh reality of intense competition that often overshadows talent in a cricket-obsessed nation. Undeterred, he embarked on a path less travelled, seeking opportunities beyond the boundaries of his homeland.

It was in the United States that Netravalkar found his calling, embracing the challenge of representing a nation where cricket was still finding its footing. With a towering frame and a quirky left-arm pace, he possessed the ability to extract disconcerting bounce and movement, leaving batters perplexed and stumps scattered.

Netravalkar's journey was not without its obstacles. Balancing his passion for cricket with his profession as a Senior Software Engineer at Oracle, he navigated the complexities of odd work hours and tours, coding on team buses and squeezing in practice sessions whenever possible.

Yet, his unwavering dedication and love for the game fueled his pursuit of excellence.

Man of The Moment

On Thursday, Netravalkar stepped onto the field after a promising start to his T20 World Cup campaign against Canada on the opening day, with his eyes burning with determination.

Pakistan, a formidable force in the cricketing world, had set a challenging target of 159 runs. Team USA, considered underdogs, rose to the occasion, matching Pakistan's score and forcing a nerve-wracking Super Over.

It was in this crucible of pressure that Netravalkar's true mettle was forged. With the world watching, he delivered a sensational over, restricting Pakistan to a mere 13 runs for the loss of one wicket. The stage was set for the United States to etch their name in the annals of cricketing history, and Netravalkar's heroics paved the way for a famous victory.

With every delivery, Netravalkar etches his name deeper into the pages of cricketing lore, proving that passion, perseverance and an unwavering spirit can conquer even the mightiest of foes.

For more news like this visit TOI . Get all the Latest News , City News , India News , Business News , and Sports News . For Entertainment News , TV News , and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes

Bangladesh won by 2 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)

Afghanistan won by 84 runs

Canada won by 12 runs

Netherlands

South Africa

Match yet to begin

The Blaze won by 7 wickets (with 35 balls remaining)

Vipers won by 7 wickets (with 55 balls remaining)

Derbyshire won by 96 runs

Essex won by 2 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)

Hampshire won by 5 wickets (with 19 balls remaining)

Kent won by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)

Lancashire won by 8 runs

Durham won by 7 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)

Northants won by 6 runs

Sussex won by 36 runs

Central Sparks

Northern Diamonds

Match starts in 5 hrs 33 mins

Birmingham Bears

West Indies

Match tied (U.S.A. won the Super Over)

Live blog - PAK vs USA - Pakistan start campaign against hosts USA

Usa stun pakistan, giant killing, pakistan falling apart in the field, it's going to a super over, why is corey anderson not out there, amir's excellent 19th over, match on a knife edge, amir, shaheen, haris have an over each, jones gets moving, two wickets in seven balls, monank patel reels off a fifty, pakistan need wickets... desperately, naseem strikes... phew, usa are away early, asian-american dreamboat, kenjige and netravalkar show, usa finish nicely, was this a good innings, babar finally catches up, shadab goes after big stand, first big over for pakistan, babar out of sorts, taylor = dwayne leverock, usman khan also falls, taylor takes a spectacular slip catch, usa up against a top fast-bowling outfit, can 30-40 minutes define this match, kenjige in for usa, espncricinfo pre-match show, is there a little pakistan nervousness.

Over 20  •  USA 159/3

From computers to cricket: how Saurabh Netravalkar coded USA's greatest script

He had moved to the country to pursue a Master's degree in Computer Engineering, but has now become part of USA cricket's folklore

Monank Patel after Super Over win: We should have finished the game in regular time

USA captain feels beating Pakistan in the World Cup is "going to open many doors for us"

Babar Azam admits Pakistan were 'not up to the mark' in bowling

Pakistan captain felt "given the bowlers we have, we should have defended that total" against USA

A day to believe cricket is not just an American Dream

The likes of Netravalkar, Monank, Nitish and Kenjige highlight USA cricket's depth and ability below big names

Pakistan's self-doubt and uncertainty clear for all to see

The hesitant batting of captain Babar Azam was a microcosm of the problems facing the team

Monank Patel praises USA bowlers for historic win over Pakistan

'pathetic performance' - wasim akram on pakistan's loss to usa, dp world going beyond boundaries: monank patel, icc men's t20 world cup.

USA beat Pakistan in super over: ICC T20 World Cup 2024 – as it happened

All the updates as USA beat Pakistan in super over for a major upset at the T20 World Cup 2024.

This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as USA beat Pakistan in a super over at the T20 World Cup on Thursday, June 6:

• USA beat Pakistan in a super over to register the first upset of the T20 World Cup 2024  at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas .
• Pakistan struggled against a disciplined USA bowling attack and posted 159-8 in their 20 overs.
• USA levelled the score in their 20 overs to take the game into a super over.
• The USA  beat Canada by seven wickets in their tournament’s opening match.
• India beat Ireland by 8 wickets in New York in Wednesday’s Group A match.
• Pakistan and India go head-to-head in New York on Sunday.
• Live updates
• Match stats

Goodbye for now!

Well, that will take some following at the T20 World Cup – or any global tournament for some time!

Sporting powerhouse USA have come of age in cricket, beating the game’s biggest name, Pakistan.

It’s all eyes on New York and the India clash for Babar Azam and his side now. We’ll bring you all the build-up and action on Sunday and plenty more before.

For now, though – from me, Kevin Hand – it’s goodbye!

England, Australia, India and Pakistan are all up next on Al Jazeera

On Saturday, we’ll bring you the huge match between England and Australia in Barbados.

Then on Sunday, the cricketing world is already relishing India against Pakistan in New York.

Before all that, however, it’s New Zealand against Afghanistan on Friday.

Pakistan have ‘seldom seen darker times’ while the American dream thrives

From a commercial perspective, this is the dream result for USA Cricket and the ICC. It will bring an enormous amount of attention to cricket in the one market that's always eluded it. Still...a bitter pill to swallow for Pakistan fans who've seldom seen darker times. — Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) June 6, 2024

Even the Kolkata Knight Riders are impressed with USA vs Pakistan

What an effort from Saurabh Netravalkar! From representing India U-19 in 2010, working as a techie in America, going on to represent USA in the #T20WorldCup and bowling a match-winning Super Over to clinch a historic win vs Pakistan! Just wow. pic.twitter.com/foSi7BQlLe — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) June 6, 2024

Former England captain impressed by USA’s downing of Pakistan

Now that’s how to grow the game in the states … 👍👍👍 — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 6, 2024

USA have hit the ‘big time’ with Pakistan win

Melinda Farrell has been providing features for Al Jazeera before the T20 World Cup and will be part of coverage as India face Pakistan on Sunday:

This is beyond huge. It’s seismic. USA have well and truly hit the big time! #t20worldcup — Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) June 6, 2024

Yuvraj Singh cranks up the temperature before India vs Pakistan

I don’t understand why dint @FakharZamanLive take strike to a lefty seamer - when it is easier for a left hander to hit through the angle that bowler is tryin to create Nonetheless have to give it #TeamUSA @usacricket for making smart decisions under pressure specially the… — Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 6, 2024

Stuart Law told us the USA were ready to shock Pakistan or India

USA coach Stuart Law, the former Australia batter, told Al Jazeera in the run-up to the tournament that no one should be surprised if his team upset Pakistan or India.

He said he knows his team “are not going to lift the trophy at the end of the World Cup”, but says it would be great if they can “cause a few scares”.

Read more from Stuart Law’s tournament preview: India and Pakistan players band together for USA

The reverberations of USA beating Pakistan will continue for some time

USA have just beaten Pakistan in a game of T20 Cricket at the World Cup. Genuinely never thought I'd ever see that fixture, never mind that result. One of the biggest upsets, if not the biggest upset, in cricket history. Wow. #T20WorldCup — Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) June 6, 2024

Jomboy’s call to action for cricket in the USA

Jimmy O’Brien has become the refreshing new voice of US cricket and is part of the official ICC broadcast team at the T20 World Cup.

Click here for our interview with “Jomboy” ahead of the tournament.

This US vs Pakistan match is awesome. If you’ve been seeing all my tweets and thinking about checking it out but haven’t yet. This would be the time to tune in. — Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 6, 2024

Wounds licked by Pakistan

This is going to be a hammer blow to Pakistan’s hopes. But of all the teams in the world that can bounce back off the ropes, they are number one.

USA secure a Super Over win in Dallas. #USAvPAK | #T20WorldCup | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/CcT8oyiqlB — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 6, 2024

More from Babar Azam

“Perhaps our mindset was a little relaxed,” Babar said in the news conference.

“We weren’t on the mark when it came to our plans as a team. The ball was holding up a bit in the beginning, but we brought momentum back.

“The loss of quick wickets gave USA the upper hand again. We need to step up in the middle order. We can’t have any excuses. We played poorly.”

Surely the USA will take note of cricket now

After all the effort over all the years, will cricket finally crack the world’s premier sporting market after this result?

No matter what happens from here for the co-hosts, they have left their mark on the tournament.

Have they left their mark on a sports-mad country?

WHAT. A. FINISH!!!! 🤩🤩 #TeamUSA wins their second match of the @ICC @T20WorldCup against Pakistan by 5 runs! 🔥 #T20WorldCup | #USAvPK | #WeAreUSACricket 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hYuDW0zvTj — USA Cricket (@usacricket) June 6, 2024

Monank is Player of the Match

Leading his nation to a historic victory 🇺🇸👏 USA captain, Monank Patel, is awarded the @Aramco POTM after his half-century laid the foundation for an extraordinary #T20WorldCup upset 🏅 #USAvPAK pic.twitter.com/pIoWjuWh9h — ICC (@ICC) June 6, 2024

The USA top India and Pakistan’s group

The USA move to the top of Group A with two wins from two.

India are second with one win from one.

Pakistan now face a huge test on against India on Sunday or an empty points column after two games could mean curtains.

USA’s joyous celebrations

USA captain Monank Patel reacts to Pakistan shock

“In their power play, we got the game in our hand and then we bowled well to the 12th over,” Monank told the post-match ceremony.

“I felt batting second we had a chance and just needed a good partnership and when me and, especially, Gous batted to the 12th over we got the game in our hands in that time.

“You don’t get to play in the World Cup every year and we knew we needed to be committed every ball.

“The way we played against Pakistan was incredible. It was a complete team effort. It’s a great win.”

‘USA were better in all three departments’

Pakistan captain Babar Azam laments their poor starts with bat and ball.

“We didn’t capitalise in the first six overs of our innings and the back-to-back wickets put us under pressure,” he tells Ramiz Raja in his post-match comments.

“The tournament is still on so we will try to make a comeback,” he says.

The Pakistan skipper is full of praise for the USA.

“They [USA] were better than us in all three departments, so credit to them.”

They can’t believe it!

The scenes at grand prairie.

Calm Monank Patel credits bowlers

The USA captain Monank Patel is very calm in the face of his team’s achievement. He credits the bowlers for keeping Pakistan under 160 and pulling off the super over win.

How big is the India match now?

All eyes turn to Sunday and the biggest game in world cricket just got that little bit bigger.

We’ll bring you the action as India take on Pakistan.

Party in the USA!

Who cares about what happens on the pitch in New York? The USA cricket fans are dancing in the aisles in Dallas, their home of cricket!

A famous win if there ever was one.

World cricket watches on in disbelief

Every cricketing eye in the world would have been on this moment.

The ‘Lawman’ rules the roost in the US

Former Australia batter and now USA head coach Stuart Law embraces his team – has he ever seen the like?

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USA T20 cricket upset of Pakistan explained: Everything to know about the historic World Cup victory

Thursday's upset win could be the start of something special for the united states and cricket.

LONDON -- Welcome to the big leagues America. We've admired your consideration of soccer, your open-mindedness about some of the rugbys, your provision of the world's greatest arena for the darts. We never really thought cricket was one for you though.

By jove, you've proven us wrong. What transpired on Thursday might just have been your finest sporting hour that most of the nation was entirely unaware of. Beating Pakistan, at the T20 Cricket World Cup, in Dallas? That's like the Miracle on Ice but the US weren't even wearing skates. If you need further context, the USA beating Pakistan at a major cricket tournament is rather like Pakistan beating the USA at the football World Cup. Honestly, in any kind of football you care to name.

A thoroughly merited win it was. The US bowlers gave their batters a real chance against the 2009 champions, Alabama-born Nostush Kenjige taking three wickets while the two for Saurabh Netravalkar, who moved to the USA to study for his Masters in Computer Engineering, came at an impressive economy rate. Oh right, we need to explain what that means.

First things first: The basics of cricket

For those of you who don't particularly understand cricket, which, in America, is more or less everybody, well, where to begin? Perhaps with a comparison to infuriate fans of two bat and ball sports in one. Imagine baseball but you're holding the bat differently and everyone is very particular about the shape of the arm of the other person  throwing  bowling the ball at you. When you hit the ball, rather than running around a diamond, you're going to want to run back and forth along a 22 yard pitch. And you see those three stumps of wood, with two smaller bits of wood sitting between them? That's the wicket. Don't let the ball hit that. Or, ideally, hit you, especially if you're in the way of the wicket. Cricket balls are hard and then there's LBW (that stands for "Leg Before Wicket"). Oh god, you're never going to get that. Pretend I didn't bring it up.

When you've hit the ball, run to the other wicket, 22 yards away, passing your team mate who'll take the next shot, taking care to get back into the safe zone (AKA the crease) before the other team have thrown the ball at the wickets. You're going to be doing that a lot. In a T20 match like the one the U.S. just won, a decent score might run beyond 150 runs. If you want to speed up the run process, try hitting the ball beyond the boundary rope that marks the end of the field (in baseball there's a wall, in cricket there's a rope, just accept it and move on). Do that with the ball hitting the turf beforehand and you can help yourself to four runs. Clear the rope on a fly and that's six for you. 

You've got 10 outs (also known as wickets) to play with before you have to stop batting. Your opponent can get you out by, to grossly simplify, bowling the ball against the wickets, hitting your body with a ball that would otherwise have hit the wicket, catching your shot before it bounces, hitting the wickets when you're out of your crease and a few other instances that, honestly, aren't going to come up sufficiently frequently to be worth mentioning. Once you've had a go at batting, the other team gets to too. Refusing to let them do so? That's just not cricket.

Then there is time. In the past, cricket matches -- which in their longest form comprise two innings for each team -- could simply last as long as was needed for one team to get their 20 wickets and win the game, or until the other team had to go home and a draw was declared. In 1939 the last timeless Test match was played, since then the longest form of the top level game has run over five days. Modern attention spans being what they are, in 1971 cricket experimented with games that could be completed in a day. 

In 2003 that process was streamlined further with the introduction of Twenty20 cricket, the razzmatazzy, fast-paced cousin of the traditional game. Think more fours and sixes, ad breaks masquerading as strategic timeouts, players referred to by their nicknames. It's the sort perfectly suited for more fast-paced sporting occasions, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket makes its return after 124 years of exile. Each team would have 20 overs (a collection of six deliveries faced) to score as many runs as they can. The team with the most runs wins. Simple.

Need more details? You probably do. We haven't even started on the nebulous spirit of cricket in which this game must be played. Centuries-old sports that are deeply embedded in your nation's culture don't lend themselves to punchy explanations across a couple of paragraphs. Watch that Bluey episode about cricket . That should help. As with all the best games, cricket is deceptively simple to follow if you simply watch along but brings with it a lifetime of devilish intricacies for those who dive in.

So what happened on Thursday?

The USA began the match by winning the coin toss (oh jeez, there's another thing I forgot to explain) and asking Pakistan to be the team that batted first. Against a lineup full of big-name stars -- Mohamed Rizwan and Babar Azam are ranked the third and fourth best batters in men's T20 cricket -- the US were excellent, sprightly in the field and direct with their bowling. Pakistan, finalists in the last World Cup, were limited to a below par 159.

The US target is well within the reach of the best international sides and for most of the innings it seemed captain Monank Patel had judged the chase of 160 runs just about right. Pakistan's bowlers, however, slowed down the US advance such that it took a four off the last ball by Nitish Kumar to send the match to something called a Super Over. Because what would a sporting occasion in the USA be without overtime?

In a fashion all too familiar for cricket lovers around the world, Pakistan then proceeded to lose its cool in the biggest moments. Three wides (woops, another thing forgotten, when the bowler delivers a ball out of reach of the batsman) by Amir, misfielding by his teammates and a thunderously hit four by Jones gave the USA an impressive 18 runs from the six balls that made up the Super Over. Their visitors were rarely within touching distance and when Shadab Khan failed to hit Netravalkar's final ball for six (remember, the most high value shot in cricket), the USA were screaming with a shocked jubilance that wasn't shared by a crowd of mostly Pakistan supporters.

"We knew that we don't have support from the crowd," Patel said. "Pakistan had more support from the crowd and I thought it would backfire on them…they'll be under more pressure."

If you are one of those to whom the extremely patiently explained preceding paragraphs still seemed utterly incomprehensible, a brief precis. America won, beating one of cricket's biggest nations in a tournament match for the first time in their history.

Now what for U.S.A. cricket?

This could be the start of something very funny for cricket in America, which is involved in hosting this T20 World Cup with the West Indies. After all, Thursday's match wasn't even the first win of the tournament for the Stars and Stripes, who smashed 197 against Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium to emerge victorious in the latest skirmish of the longest running rivalry in international cricket.  Two games, two wins. The USA might now end up with more victories at a home T20 World Cup than this summer's home Copa America, the major event for another American team chasing validation from its counterparts from around the world.

It would be perhaps the greatest shock in the sport's history if the USA were to beat India, the sport's economic and cultural juggernaut, in New York on Wednesday, but they might not need a win there to achieve something remarkable. Beat Ireland in Lauderhill, Fla., two days later and Patel's side would be extremely well-placed to reach the Super Eight, the round where cricket's best nations face off against each other. It is not unimaginable that the US might do exactly that, they beat full Test member (one of the good teams) Ireland at that very ground in December 2021 and have clearly been growing in quality over recent years, evidenced by two wins against Bangladesh (another good team) last month.

Could this be the start of a beautiful love affair? One can but dream. CBS Sports' first cricket correspondent -- summers at Lords, winters in Antigua and Australia -- where do I sign up?

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First Published: Jun 06 2024 | 7:26 PM IST

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