Pakistanin the campaign of t20 world cup 2026 Big shock after heartbreaking defeat England in their super 8 Clash at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Although according to the Pakistan chief, the margin of defeat was small, the underlying reasons were Shaheen AfridiHe languished in the middle overs where his team failed to build a meaningful partnership.
In an up-and-down game till the last over, Pakistan scored 164/9 after being sent in to bat first. England eventually chased it down with two wickets in hand and five balls to spare, but modest scores always gave Pakistan bowlers little chance on a surface that was fresh and true to form.
Shaheen Afridi told where Pakistan made mistakes in the match
Afridi did not shy away from identifying the turning point. The left-arm pacer, who returned impressive figures of 4/30, admitted that Pakistan’s inability to build a stable partnership during the middle stages of the innings cost them a potentially defendable total.
He stressed the importance of setting a batsman at the crease during the middle overs – someone who is able to rotate the strike and maintain the pace. Instead, Pakistan lost wickets in clusters, halting whatever momentum they attempted to build.
On a pitch where the bowlers were not getting early support, Afridi felt that a target between 180-190 would have been competitive. However, repeated dismissals prevented the team from gaining momentum at the right time. The lack of consistency meant that the team struggled to consistently score the eight to nine runs per over that often form the backbone of a successful T20 innings.
“I think on these kind of wickets you need partnerships and you need a set batsman in that position who can bat in the middle overs. But unfortunately we kept losing wickets, that’s why we couldn’t reach the score of 180-190.” Afridi was quoted as saying by JioSuper.
Afridi praised Harry Brook’s explosive innings
While Afridi’s aggressive spells brought Pakistan back into the contest, England’s composure with the bat made the difference. harry brook Chasing the target with a brilliant century, it was exactly the kind of performance Afridi believed Pakistan was lacking.
Brook skillfully rotated the strike, built partnerships and withstood the pressure despite the fall of wickets at the other end. His calming presence ensured that England never went too far at the required rate. Afridi explained how England’s ability to keep a set batsman at the crease in the middle overs tilted the balance. The contrast between the two batting approaches was stark – where Pakistan faltered, England strengthened.
“If you see, when England batted, Harry Brook stayed at the crease and he was rotating the strike and he was just building partnerships. I think we missed that opportunity to build a partnership. Partnership means you have to have someone at the crease who can take singles and two runs. During a T20 innings, you need eight or nine runs per over if you even want to build a partnership.” Added Afridi.
Pakistani fast bowler also accepted England’s bowling effort while dismissing the leg spinner. adil rashid For his decisive mantra. Rashid’s control and variety tightened the screws during the middle overs and prevented Pakistan from gaining a late lead.
“I think Adil Rashid bowled really well in the middle stages, so I think credit goes to him as well.” Afridi explained.
Despite the defeat, Afridi’s performance with the ball was a ray of hope. His four wickets, including the prized scalp of Brook, reflected his return to form at the crucial stage of the tournament. Yet, even that individual brilliance could not compensate for the team’s collective shortcomings with the bat.
