Pakistancampaign of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 There was a dramatic but painful ending on Saturday night as the Men in Green bowed out despite defeat Sri Lanka At Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
In a match full of explosive batting, tense calculations and last-over drama, Pakistan did what it could – but not enough. They ultimately missed out on a place in the semi-finals due to poor net run rate, which angered fans and former cricketers.
Great batting but heartbreaking on the sidelines.
Pakistan needed more than just a win in the crucial Super Eight match. Finishing third in Group 2, they had to beat Sri Lanka by a significant margin to advance new zealand On net run rate.
Sri Lankan captain asked to bat first Dasun ShanakaPakistan responded with intention. new opening pair of Sahebzada Farhan And Fakhar Zaman Started an aggressive masterclass by making a brilliant partnership of 176 runs.
Zaman scored 84 runs in just 42 balls with the help of nine fours and four skyscraper sixes before falling in the 16th over. However, Farhan completed a brilliant century – 100 off 60 balls – an innings that blended elegance with power. Pakistan made a strong score of 212/8 in 20 overs. The equation was clear: restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or less to book a place in the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka’s reply not only kept Pakistan alive in the competition but also kept it alive in worries. The hosts kept trailing and with the qualification equation tightening, every run became crucial. Ultimately, Sri Lanka crossed the 147-run mark without being all out and thus Pakistan did not get 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 questions Disha
Former opening batsman of Pakistan Ahmed Shahzad Did not refuse to express his views on social media. He expressed disappointment at the lack of progress under the current system.
Shahzad criticized the frequent reshuffling of the batting order and alleged that the team selection was influenced by external pressure rather than cricketing logic. He said that the promises of building a strong middle order could not be fulfilled and described the last three years as a period of stagnation rather than development.
“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 for balance, but for adjusting your people and succumbing to social media pressure. Three years of this setup, and still no progress. How much more time do you need? We are not improving. We are falling,” Quoting GeoNews, Shahzad wrote on X.
Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi demanded accountability
former captain Mohammad Yusuf Used sharp satire to summarize the mood. Reflecting on the bold pre-tournament claims about reaching the final, he compared the campaign to “the final moments of a sinking ship”, while also urging serious introspection and hinting that domestic leagues may soon lose public attention.
“We were loudly announcing that we were headed to the final. Turns out, they meant the final moments of a sinking ship. Do we even have enough life jackets, or is this just another Titanic? No worries! The #PSL is around the corner, and this embarrassment will soon be forgotten as pride will rise again,” Yusuf said.
Meanwhile, former captain shahid afridi Called for structural reforms. He questioned how the cricket-loving nation of over 240 million people is struggling at the highest level. Afridi demanded accountability from the management and administrators and stressed that Pakistan must rediscover its competitive edge.
“This is a moment to reflect on the future of cricket in Pakistan. How is a country of our population producing just eleven substandard players at the highest level? Who will take the responsibility of restoring the pride and standard of the Pakistan national cricket team?” Afridi wrote.
Shoaib Akhtar raised questions on selection!
former speedster -Shoaib Akhtar Similar concerns were raised on a television show criticizing recent team combinations. He told that players like Saim Ayyub could offer balance, and raised questions as to why natural roles were ignored earlier in the tournament. According to Akhtar, strong acting of Fakhar, Farhan and Abrar Ahmed Earlier selection flaws were exposed in this match.
“Pakistan’s management looks completely clueless. Today’s team selection only confirmed that the XI chosen over the last 15 days was wrong. There was one glaring error – Saeem Ayub should have played in place of Khawaja Nafee. Saeem 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 opening batsman, yet he Wasn’t fed earlier. Today, Farhan, Abrar all performed well, that tells you everything.” Akhtar said angrily.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2026: Wide trigger debate on final over in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Super 8 match
