The final of the T20 World Cup 2026 being played today between New Zealand and India. Both teams qualify for the final after beating South Africa and England in the semi-finals respectively.

South Africa qualifies for the semi-final without losing any game, but as usual they chocked in the knock out game. They played very good cricket in round and Super Eight matches when the trophy was two wins away, they chocked again.

In the second semi-final, England beaten by India after close finish. Despite the magnificent century by Jacob Bathell lost the game by just seven runs while chasing a huge target of 2554.

Pakistan’s campaign at the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup ended in disappointment as they failed to qualify for the semi-finals, managing just one victory in the tournament. Their sole win came against hosts Sri Lanka, while they suffered defeats to England and saw their fixture against New Zealand washed out.

Expectations had been high heading into the event, particularly after Pakistan’s 3-0 pre- tournament sweep of Australia. Armed with a formidable five-pronged spin attack, the side appeared well equipped for the turning pitches in Sri Lanka, where all their matches were played. However, the warning signs emerged early. In their

Netherlands, Pakistan narrowly escaped with a three-wicket win in the final over, largely due to Faheem Ashraf’s explosive 29 off 11 balls.

The failure in this tournament continues a troubling trend. Over the past three years, Pakistan have been unable to reach the semi-finals in four successive ICC events: the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United States, the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, and the 2025 Champions Trophy. The women’s team has faced similar challenges, with their last semi-final appearance dating back to the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

Since 2024, Pakistan’s performances in major tournaments have lacked consistency and impact.

They exited in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, a campaign marred by a shock defeat to the United States. In the subsequent Champions Trophy, hosted at home, Pakistan failed to register a single victory and finished bottom of their group.

More often than not, Pakistan’s progression to the next round hinges on permutations rather than performance. Their qualification scenarios frequently depend on other results - if Team A defeats Team B, or if a particular side wins by a significant margin, only then does Pakistan remain in contention.

There have been few instances in recent years when the Green Shirts have advanced solely on the strength of their own results, without relying on favourable outcomes elsewhere.

Pakistan’s preparation for the World Cup was among the most extensive of any major side. A six-week Pakistan Super League season in April and May was followed immediately by a home T20I series against Bangladesh. In the nine months leading up to the tournament, Pakistan played 34 T20 Internationals - more than any other leading cricket nation.

Of those 34 matches, Pakistan won 24, clinched two triangular series, lost only one of five bilateral series, and reached the Asia Cup final. During this period, other formats were deprioritised, with just two Test matches and six ODIs played. The Pakistan Cricket Board also adopted a liberal No-Objection Certificate (NOC) policy, allowing numerous players to participate in overseas T20 leagues such as the ILT20, BBL and BPL.

With all their World Cup fixtures scheduled in Sri Lanka, Pakistan hastily arranged a three-match T20I series there in January, having not played T20 cricket in the country for nearly 11 years.

In the ongoing mega event, green shirts progress to the second group stage came largely on the back of wins against Associate nations. Meanwhile, in the World Test Championship, Pakistan finished at the bottom of the standings, including a 2-0 home series defeat to Bangladesh.

Leadership instability has compounded the issues, with four different captains leading the side across four ICC tournaments, reflecting a lack of continuity and long-term direction.

Notably, the narrow win over Sri Lanka remains the only victory against a traditional top-tier side for Pakistan in the last three ICC tournaments. Their other wins during this period have come against Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United States and Namibia. Against India, Pakistan have lost all six of their encounters in ICC events during this span.

The broader picture underscores a team struggling to translate potential into performance on the global stage, raising pressing questions about structure, leadership and long-term planning.

In the aftermath of Pakistan’s early exit from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, former international umpire and national selection committee member Aleem Dar has stepped down from his role.

According to media reports, Dar resigned citing what he described as extraordinary interference in selection matters by head coach Mike Hesson and the silence of influential selection committee member Aaqib Javed. Dar reportedly expressed frustration that while selectors had identified the best 20 players for consideration, the final 15-member squad - and subsequently the playing XI - were chosen by the captain and coach, leaving selectors to bear the brunt of public criticism.

During the tournament, Dar is understood to have raised reservations over the inclusion of former captain Babar Azam and all-rounder Shadab Khan, citing their recent lack of form. He also questioned the appointment of Salman Ali Agha as captain, suggesting that the decision was not sufficiently debated within the selection panel. Reports indicate that Hesson exercised decisive authority in finalising selections.

Notably, eight of the 15 players in the squad - Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan and Fakhar Zaman - were also part of the squad that featured in the World Cup held in the United States two years earlier.

Captain Salman Ali Agha defended the decision to initially leave Fakhar Zaman out of the playing XI, stating that the left-hander was not in form at the time. However, that reasoning came under scrutiny when Fakhar, promoted to open against Sri Lanka, struck a blistering 84 off 42 balls. His performance contrasted sharply with the struggles of Saim Ayub at the top of the order, who endured a lean run throughout the tournament. Despite the experience within the squad, most senior players failed to deliver in key moments.

One notable exception was opener Sahibzada Farhan, who produced a historic individual campaign.

Farhan amassed 383 runs in six innings from seven matches, including two centuries and two half-centuries, at an average of 76 and a strike rate of 160.25. In doing so, he set a new record for the most runs in a single edition of the tournament, surpassing the previous mark of 319 runs established by Virat Kohli in 2014.

Apart from Farhan and Fakhar, no other Pakistan batter managed a half-century in the competition. Babar Azam scored 91 runs in four innings at an average of 22.75, while Saim Ayub accumulated 70 runs at an average of 14, with a highest score of 24 against the Netherlands. He registered scores of 6 and 7 against India and England, respectively.

The tournament has reignited debate over Pakistan’s selection process, leadership structure and long-term planning, with Dar’s resignation adding further weight to concerns about governance and accountability within the national setup.

On the bowling front, Pakistan’s attack - widely regarded as one of its principal strengths - failed to deliver at critical junctures. Senior bowlers, including Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan, were unable to impose themselves consistently throughout the tournament.

Shaheen Afridi endured a particularly underwhelming campaign. Although he claimed eight wickets in five matches at an average of 22.37, his economy rate of 10.52 raised serious concerns in a format where containment is as vital as wicket-taking. In the decisive fixture against Sri Lanka, with the hosts requiring 28 runs in the final over, Shaheen conceded 24 runs off his first four deliveries, placing Pakistan on the brink of defeat. Two dot balls at the end ensured survival, but the over encapsulated the volatility of his tournament.

Pakistan’s spin department, considered a comparative advantage ahead of the event, was similarly underutilised and, at times, mismanaged. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq emerged as the side’s most effective bowler, claiming 10 wickets at an impressive average of 14.10 and maintaining an economy rate of 7.23. Despite his impact, his deployment in key matches drew scrutiny.

Leading spinner Abrar Ahmed featured in only four of the seven matches, taking six wickets at an average of 19 and an economy rate of 7.60. His limited participation prompted questions about team balance and strategic clarity.

The inclusion of Shadab Khan proved one of the most debated selection decisions. He managed five wickets at a high average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 8.44, failing to influence games either as a bowler or all-rounder. Meanwhile, Mohammad Nawaz struggled throughout the tournament, scoring just 15 runs at an average of 3.00 and offering little impact with the ball.

The emphasis on batting depth, which underpinned his selection, ultimately yielded minimal returns. Captain Salman Ali Agha, who led the side during the World Cup, now faces mounting pressure.

He publicly accepted responsibility for the team’s failure, stating that all major decisions were taken in consultation with head coach Mike Hesson and that the management collectively selected the playing XI. However, reports suggest that Hesson exerted dominant influence not only in squad selection but also in final XI decisions and in-game bowling changes.

Tactically, Agha’s leadership was questioned in high-stakes moments. Against India, he delayed introducing Usman Tariq until the 11th over, by which time opener Ishan Kishan had already scored a match-defining 77, putting India firmly in control. With the bat, Agha contributed 60 runs and claimed just one wicket across seven matches, falling short both as a performer and as a strategic leader.

The broader assessment reveals a widening performance gap between Pakistan and leading T20 sides such as India, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand and England. While top teams have adapted to the evolving tactical and athletic demands of Twenty20 cricket - prioritising power-hitting, role clarity, fielding standards and data-driven match-ups - Pakistan’s approach appears misaligned with contemporary benchmarks.

The tournament has once again exposed structural shortcomings, from selection philosophy to on-field execution, underscoring the urgent need for strategic recalibration if Pakistan are to re-establish themselves among cricket’s elite in the shortest format.

[email protected]