- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:37 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
PAK vs ENG T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: Pakistan are on the verge of an early exit from the ongoing mega event after England defeated them by two wickets in their super 8s clash on Tuesday. After scoring just one point in the Super 8s stage, with their last match against New Zealand in Colombo being abandoned, even if they defeat Sri Lanka in their next match, it won't be enough to help them qualify for the semifinals.
Since the Salman Ali Agha-led side is on the verge of getting eliminated, ex-cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Saqlain Mushtaq were seen getting involved in a heated exchange on a live TV show about Mohammad Nawaz's position in the playing XI.
The Men in Green included two spin-bowling all-rounders, Nawaz and Shadab Khan, who gave away 57 runs, and Nawaz took two wickets. But both had bowled just three overs, and questions were raised about whether the team management saw them as genuine match-winners.
During an interaction on the Pakistani show Tapmad, Saqlain was sharing his views on all-rounders when Hafeez intervened and asked a question about Nawaz. This resulted in a heated argument in which Hafeez said that Nawaz shouldn't be part of the playing XI if he isn't fully trusted as a bowler. This is how the conversation went.
Hafeez: Is he a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder?
Saqlain: He is a bit of both. You can't talk about him in that manner.
Hafeez: What is his first preference?
Saqlain: he is equally good at batting and bowling.
Hafeez: Then why not use him at No. 5?
Saqlain: He has been. In fact, when I was with the Pakistan team, I made him bat at No. 5. He has the potential.
Hafeez: So, he is a batsman who can bowl? What is his priority?
Saqlain: If he can win you matches both with the bat and the ball, that means you are equally good.
Hafeez: I have played for Pakistan as an all-rounder. My primary job was batting. For Nawaz, it is bowling. Same for bowling. And if he can't do that, we don't want him.
Nawaz has taken six wickets in five matches so far in the ongoing mega event. He registered his best bowling figures against England, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs, both coming in the last over of England's chase and helping the Men in Green reduce the equation from 5 off 12 balls to 3 off 6. Jofra Archer took the team across the line by smashing a four on the first ball of Salman Mirza's over.