Pakistan Of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 The campaign came to a dramatic but painful end on Saturday night, when the Men in Green Sri Lanka Despite defeating India at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, they were eliminated.
In a match filled with explosive batting, tense calculations and last-over drama, Pakistan did everything they could — but it wasn’t enough. A lack of net run rate ultimately cost them a place in the semi-finals, angering fans and former cricketers at home.
Batting shine but margin of defeat
Heading into the crucial Super Eights clash, Pakistan needed more than just a win. Sitting third in Group 2, they had to beat Sri Lanka by a significant margin to qualify. New Zealand Can leave behind in net run rate.
sri lankan captain Dasun Shanaka Asked to bat first, Pakistan responded with intent. new opening pair Sahibzada Farhan And Fakhar Zaman Put up an aggressive masterclass, putting up a brilliant 176-run partnership.
Zaman touched the boundary ropes with nine fours and four lofted sixes, scoring 84 runs from just 42 balls, but was out in the 16th over. However, Farhan completed a brilliant century — 100 off 60 balls — which was a blend of elegance and power. Pakistan made a strong score of 212/8 in 20 overs. The equation was clear: Sri Lanka had to be restricted to 147 or less to make the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka’s response kept Pakistan alive in the competition, but also in worry. The hosts continued to score runs, and as the qualification equation tightened, every run became important. Ultimately, Sri Lanka crossed the 147-run mark without being out, thus denying Pakistan a chance to make it to the semi-finals. Although Pakistan won the match, it was a victory on paper and a defeat in reality.
Ahmed Shahzad raised questions on Disha
former pakistan opener Ahmed Shahzad Didn’t mince his words on social media. He expressed disappointment at the lack of progress under the current setup.
Shahzad criticized the frequent changes in the batting order and alleged that the team’s selections were influenced by external pressures and not cricketing logic. He also pointed out that promises to build a strong middle order have failed, and called the last three years a period of stagnation rather than growth.
“Pakistan is officially out of the World Cup. We supported you when you supported the youth in the Asia Cup. You promised a strong middle order, but everything changed, not to balance, but to accommodate your people and bow to the pressure of social media. Three years of this setup, and still no progress. How much more time do you need? We are not improving. We are falling,” Shahzad wrote on X, as quoted by Geonews.
Mohammad Yusuf and Shahid Afridi demanded accountability
former captain Mohammed Yusuf used sharp satire to convey the mood succinctly. Recalling bold claims ahead of the tournament, he compared the campaign to “the last moments of a sinking ship”, appealing for serious introspection and hinting that the domestic leagues may soon shift public attention.
“We had announced loud and clear that we are heading towards the final. Turns out, they took to mean the final moments of a sinking ship. Do we have enough life jackets, or is it just another Titanic? No worries! #PSL is around the corner, and this embarrassment will soon be forgotten as pride surges again,” Yusuf said.
Meanwhile, former captain shahid afridi Demanded structural reforms. He raised questions as to how a country with a cricket-loving population of over 240 million is struggling at the highest level. Afridi demanded accountability from the management and administrators, insisting that Pakistan needed to rediscover its competitive edge.
“This is the moment to consider the future of cricket in Pakistan. How is a nation with our population producing only eleven average players at the highest level? Who will take the responsibility of restoring the reputation and standard of the Pakistan national cricket team?,” Afridi wrote.
Shoaib Akhtar raised questions on selection
former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar expressed similar concerns in a television show, criticizing recent team combinations. He told that Sam Ayub Such players may have provided balance, and raised questions as to why the natural roles were ignored in the first half of the tournament. According to Akhtar, in this match Fakhar, Farhan and Abrar Ahmed ’s strong performance exposed earlier selection flaws.
“Pakistan’s management seems completely clueless. Today’s team selection only confirmed that the XI chosen over the last 15 days was wrong. There was one glaring mistake — Sam Ayub should have played instead of Khawaja Nafay. Sam could have contributed with the ball too. This selection showed that when you pick the right players for the right roles, they perform. Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener, yet he was not played earlier. Today, Farhan, Fakhar and Abrar all performed, it says it all.” Akhtar said on Tapmad.
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