Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi (C) shakes palms with Sri Lanka´s captain Dasun Shanaka (R) on the finish of the 2026 ICC Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup Tremendous Eights match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 28, 2026. — AFP
KANDY: Pakistan’s shortcomings had been laid naked throughout their lacklustre T20 World Cup marketing campaign which ended Saturday when the group failed to succeed in the semi-finals.
From the captain Salman Agha, who was criticised for not being a T20 participant, to gradual batting charges and using all-rounders less than the job, Pakistan had been proven to be behind the occasions within the rapid-fire format.
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes there’s a large gulf in normal between Pakistan and the highest sides reminiscent of India, West Indies, South Africa and England.
“Other teams have evolved to the demands of Twenty20 cricket, but neither our team nor our players meet those standards,” Akmal instructed AFP.
“It is like other teams are playing on the moon and we are on earth. We only beat smaller teams but lose to top teams.”
Pakistan had excessive hopes for the T20 World Cup after sweeping Australia 3-0 in a pre-tournament collection.
They boasted a quintet of spinners that ought to have been suited to the turning pitches in Sri Lanka the place they performed all their matches.
However they acquired a impolite awakening of their first match towards the Netherlands when solely they squeezed dwelling by three wickets within the ultimate over due to Faheem Ashraf’s 11-ball 29.
‘Did not deal with strain’
Like most of his predecessors at World Cups, Agha blundered within the pressure-cooker match towards India, which solely went forward after the Pakistan authorities U-turned on a boycott simply days earlier than the encounter.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha appears on through the 2026 ICC Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup Tremendous Eights match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 28, 2026. — AFP
Agha received the toss and requested India to bat. The choice backfired badly as Pakistan conceded 175 and had been hammered by 61 runs.
Agha inexplicably held again his thriller spinner and chief weapon Usman Tariq to the eleventh over, by which period opener Ishan Kishan had scored his match-shaping 77 and India had been nicely on their approach to a profitable complete.
“How on earth did you bowl at a venue which was suited to batting first,” questioned former Pakistan participant Basit Ali.
“After India scored 175 our batters failed to handle the pressure of a chase.”
Agha additionally held again Tariq’s second over towards England, after he took a wicket in his first, permitting captain Harry Brook to construct a glowing match-winning century.
“It was weak captaincy from Agha,” mentioned Akmal, who additionally took purpose on the head coach Mike Hesson and the selectors.
“We were also not helped by head coach Mike Hesson, who has an obsession for bit-and-pieces all-rounders who were neither complete bowlers, nor good batters.”
Pakistan’s insistence in sticking with the out-of-sorts Babar Azam did nothing to assist their shaky batting.
The star batsman’s gradual scoring at quantity 4 interrupted the aspect’s rhythm.
He was dropped for the ultimate match towards Sri Lanka on Saturday the place Pakistan lastly posted a complete in extra of 200, nevertheless it proved too little too late as New Zealand progressed on web run price.
“We are all fans of Azam but he disappointed us by not adapting to the demands of T20 cricket,” mentioned one Pakistan fan, Saud Baloch, who resigned from his job within the United Arab Emirates to go to the World Cup.
“The whole Pakistan fandom is not only disappointed but angry.
“However we all know nothing will change and we’ll proceed to mourn such defeats in future.”
