CWC2023: Upsets in World Cup – Australia falls to Afghanistan, South Africa to Netherlands – Coincidence or more?

The CWC2023 is well underway, and it has seen some surprising losses from heavyweight teams like England and South Africa. Meanwhile, underdog teams like Afghanistan and the Netherlands have managed to secure victories.

England, the reigning world champion, was considered a strong contender in the CWC2023, however, they suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the newcomer Afghanistan, losing by a significant margin of 69 runs.

In contrast, South Africa, considered one of the favorites in the CWC2023, also faced a defeat in a crucial match against the first-time qualifier, the Netherlands. As a cricket fan, it can be quite challenging to come to terms with these surprising losses by traditionally strong cricket teams. However, as they say in the world of cricket, “Cricket is a game of chance,” and sometimes, unexpected outcomes are part of the sport that fans must accept.

READ MORE: Jealousy Factor: Former Captain Shoaib Malik criticizes current skipper Babar Azam, suggests leadership change

Looking back at cricket history, we can indeed find some notable upsets. One of them occurred in 1999 when heavyweight Pakistan suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of a relatively weaker team, Bangladesh.

This unexpected loss remains a mystery to this day, as it was followed by the unfortunate discovery of Pakistan’s cricket coach Bob Woolmer from the South African region found dead in his hotel room.

Netherlands celebration in dressing room after Historical win against South Africa#SAvNED | #SAvsNED | #CWC23pic.twitter.com/WTWKVUDirt

— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) October 18, 2023

Rumors of ‘betting’ have often circulated in connection with such unexpected defeats in the world of cricket. India, being a major hub for cricket betting, has sometimes been implicated in these speculations. However, it’s worth noting that despite such rumors, there may not always be concrete evidence or news in the media regarding the scrutiny of these matches.

In any case, cricket enthusiasts continue to support and wish good luck to South Africa, the Netherlands, England, and Afghanistan as they prepare for their upcoming matches. The unpredictability of cricket is part of what makes it such an exciting and captivating sport.

Here are the scoreboards: