Greatest upsets in cricket World Cup history after Zimbabwe's shock win over Pakistan

We look back at some of the most stunning results at the showpiece event in 20 and 50-over cricket

BIGGEST UPSETS AT WORLD CUP: Number 20 - T20 World Cup 2021, Scotland beat Bangladesh by six runs. On the first day of Oman hosting World Cup cricket, the Scots shocked Bangladesh – then inadvertently interrupted the defeated side’s press conference with a rendition of Flower of Scotland. AP

19. 2007 T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe beat Australia by five wickets. Australia were still some years from cracking T20 cricket, but this represented an upset as Brendan Taylor oversaw a fine run chase. AFP

18. 2014 T20 World Cup, Netherlands beat England by 45 runs. Mudassar Bukhari, a Burger King manager in the Hague, was player of the match for his three wickets as the Dutch dominated a shambolic England side in Bangladesh. Getty

17. 2014 T20 World Cup, Nepal beat Afghanistan by nine runs. Paras Khadka’s “Cardiac Kids” finished level on points with Bangladesh in the opening round of their first World Cup, having thrashed Hong Kong and then beaten Afghanistan. Getty

16. 2016 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan beat West Indies by six runs. West Indies still went on to win the tournament, but they dropped a stitch against Afghanistan when they failed to chase 124 in Nagpur. AFP

15. 2022 T20 World Cup, Ireland beat England by five runs (DLS). Andy Balbirnie played a captain’s knock to take Ireland to 157. Then his bowlers wrought havoc with England’s top-order before the rain arrived in Melbourne. PA

14. 1999 World Cup, Zimbabwe beat South Africa by 48 runs. Beating a side including Allan Donald, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis was an achievement in itself. The fact it eliminated England and sent Zimbabwe through in the process, even more so. Getty

Brad Evans (2-R) of Zimbabwe and teammates celebrate after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Super 12 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, 27 October 2022. EPA / RICHARD WAINWRIGHT NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

12. 2007 World Cup, Bangladesh beat India by five wickets. The result that brought about a restructuring of all future World Cups to ensure the participation of India – with all its attendance revenue – for longer. Getty

11. 2022 T20 World Cup, Scotland beat West Indies by 42 runs. Scotland had played just two T20Is between the 2021 World Cup and the start of this one. They still had plenty enough to beat the two-time champions in Hobart, though. AFP

10. 2022 T20 World Cup, Namibia beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs. Namibia had qualified for the Super 12 a year earlier, but their thrashing of the recently crowned Asia Cup champions was still a big shock. The first of many in this year’s competition. AP

9. 2014 T20 World Cup, Netherlands beat Ireland by six wickets. Beating the Irish in itself was not such a huge shock. The manner the Dutch did so – chasing 163 in 13.5 overs to confirm progress in the tournament – was scarcely believable. Getty

8. 2014 T20 World Cup, Hong Kong beat Bangladesh by two wickets. There was no damage done for hosts Bangladesh, as they still advanced from the group, but it was still a remarkable win for Hong Kong in their first appearance on this stage. AP

7. 2003 World Cup, Kenya beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs. Kenya. Remember them? They reached the semi-final of the 2003 World Cup, on the back of a number of wins, including one in Nairobi against the side who had won the 1996 title. AFP

6. 2009 T20 World Cup, Netherlands beat England by four wickets. England and Netherlands have met twice in T20 internationals. The Dutch remain undefeated. On this night, Lord’s was bathed in orange as they stunned the hosts. Reuters

5. 2007 World Cup, Ireland beat Pakistan by three wickets. Niall O’Brien’s half-century was the foundation for one of the most fateful results in World Cup history, as Pakistan eventually followed India out of the tournament. Getty

4. 1996 World Cup, Sri Lanka beat Australia by seven wickets. Aravinda de Silva scored a hundred in the final in Lahore as Sri Lanka – equipped with a thrilling new game plan of all-out attack from the top of the order – shocked the world. Getty

3. 1983 World Cup, Zimbabwe beat Australia by 13 runs. In their first one-day international, Zimbabwe stunned Australia at Trent Bridge. Duncan Fletcher made 69 then took 4-42. It was not the last time he would be the bane of Australia. Getty

2. 1983 World Cup, India beat West Indies by 43 runs. Not the greatest disparity between two teams. But modern cricket history’s most important match, as Kapil’s Devils beat the mighty West Indies. India’s financial dominance of cricket started with this game. Reuters

1. 2011 World Cup, Ireland beat England by three wickets. It looked impossible on paper. Even more so when Ireland were 111-5 halfway through their reply in pursuit of 328. Then Kevin O’Brien scripted a fairy tale. Getty

The 2022 T20 World Cup started with a barely believable result, when little old Namibia outplayed Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka in Geelong – and the upsets have barely stopped since.

Most recently, qualifiers Zimbabwe shocked Pakistan, to leave the world ranked No 4 side on the brink of an early exit.

Sikandar Raza, their hero all-rounder, termed it the greatest win of his time in Zimbabwe’s national team.

Was it better than that time, in 1983, Zimbabwe beat Australia in the longer-format World Cup, in the country’s first one-day international?

Raza said he would have to defer to Dave Houghton, a player back then and now the side’s head coach, for an informed opinion on that question.

Both of those matches feature in our list of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

But which was the biggest upset of all? Scroll through the picture gallery above and find out. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.