The Pakistan women’s team is reportedly battling internal tensions during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England. According to reports, differences have emerged between captain Fatima Sana and team mentor Wahab Riaz over selection decisions and disciplinary matters, adding to the team’s disappointing campaign.
Pakistan Women will take on the Netherlands in their final ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 group match on June 27 in Bristol. The team has already been eliminated after losing all four matches of the group stage. Before the World Cup, Pakistan failed to win even a single match in the triangular series against Ireland and West Indies.
Fatima Sana upset due to Pakistani teammate’s husband staying in her room
According to PTI, the controversy reportedly started before Pakistan’s group-stage match against Bangladesh, when captain Fatima Sana objected to senior player Alia Riaz’s husband Ali Younis staying in her room in the team hotel.
On Sana’s request, Ali Younis was asked to leave the room. The report also claimed that, a day before the Bangladesh match, Alia Riaz and her husband went on a sightseeing tour instead of attending the team’s scheduled practice session.
“It was on Sana’s insistence that Ali Younis was asked to vacate the room. Then, a day before the game against Bangladesh, Alia and her husband went out for sightseeing when the team’s practice was scheduled,” the agency said in a report.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has neither confirmed nor denied these reports, although the claims have been widely discussed on social media and news platforms.
Fatima Sana wanted Alia Riaz to be dropped before Bangladesh match
According to the report, Fatima Sana wanted Aliya Riaz to be dropped from the match against Bangladesh as she missed the scheduled practice session. However, Wahab Riaz supported the senior player and insisted on his selection.
Pakistan lost the match by 23 runs after failing to chase 123 runs. Reports claimed that after the defeat, in which Aliya failed to make an impact, Sana confronted Wahab in front of the team and blamed him for ignoring disciplinary standards while selecting the playing eleven.
The report also claims that the dressing room is divided into groups, leading to strained relations between some senior players and the coaching staff. The coach is reportedly unhappy that his plans are not being followed during matches.
Similar news regarding dressing room in Pakistan cricket has come to light earlier also. During the men’s team’s disappointing campaigns in the 2023 and 2024 ICC World Cups, reports of internal tensions also emerged, some of which later proved to be true.
PCB is facing new questions and Pakistan continues to struggle
Pakistan had a disappointing World Cup campaign after winning a tri-series against Ireland and West Indies before the tournament. The team has lost all four group-stage matches in England after finishing bottom in the Women’s ODI World Cup last year.
Pakistan had lost to India by 64 runs in their opening match before suffering a two-wicket loss to South Africa. They faced defeat by 113 runs against Australia in Leeds. After the defeat, captain Fatima Sana admitted that the team had given its worst performance of the tournament.
“I think we played our worst cricket in this game, and as a whole team we need to accept that. We need to go back, reflect and improve ourselves.”
After T20 World Cup Pakistan captain to join Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. She became the first Pakistani player to feature in the Women’s Hundred, replacing Australian cricketer Lucy Hamilton.