The United States' T20 World Cup group match against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida was washed out on Friday, ensuring the co-hosts' progress to the Super Eight knockout stage at the expense of former champions Pakistan.
Unrelenting rain, which had put South Florida at risk of life-threatening flooding, resulted in a wet outfield when the teams arrived. Although the rain stopped in the morning, umpires called off the game when it returned after several inspections.
India top the group with six points while USA are second with five points, which means third-placed Pakistan (two points) cannot finish in the top two even if they beat Ireland on Sunday in their final group game.
Only the top two teams from the four groups advance to the Super Eight. USA. beat Canada in the tournament opener before stunning Pakistan in a match that went to a Super Over.
Newcomers USA cleared the group stage of the T20 World Cup in their very first attempt.
Pakistan went down to India in New York on Sunday in a close game, failing to chase a target of 120. Before that, in their opening game in Dallas, they suffered a shock Super Over loss to USA.
The back-to-back defeats meant Pakistan's chances of advancing to the Super Eight were already out of their control. It is yet another global tournament where the unpredictable Pakistanis again left it too late.
Partly made up of men moonlighting as cricketers when not doing their primary jobs, the USA team's upsurge in the game was the morale-boosting T20I series victory over Bangladesh just prior to the T20 World Cup.
The entire Florida leg of T20 World Cup, to be held at the Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, might be washed out because of the adverse weather conditions.
The conditions have forced local authorities to issue a state of emergency.
Just two days ago, the match between Nepal and Sri Lanka here was washed out before toss could take place.
USA's qualification did shatter Pakistan's hopes but they only have themselves to blame after losing their first two fixtures against the Americans and arch-rivals India in New York.
The Babar Azam-led side needed to win their remaining two games big and defeated Canada by seven wickets, with Ireland waiting in the wings but that match in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia now has become inconsequential.
It also turned out to be a disappointing start for South African Gary Kirsten as Pakistan coach.
Kirsten, who coached India to the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, took over the reigns of Pakistan just before the T20 World Cup, and will have some tough calls to take as the Man in Green hit a new low in their rich cricketing history.
