T20 World Cup 2026: Another highly anticipated IND-PAK match in a multi-nation tournament ended as a damp squib on Sunday as the Suryakumar Yadav-led team achieved a historic win in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Pakistani side, under the captaincy of Salman Agha, proved no match to the Indian counterparts, registering a 61-run loss at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Just like after every Pakistani defeat, former Cricketers drubbed the current team with scathing assessments, with some even calling for their removal from the national T20I side.
Star Pakistan players Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan were held responsible and called out for their underperformance against the arch-rivals in a lop-sided contest. The Pakistani bowling featuring Shaheen and Shadab was taken apart by young opener Ishan Kishan (77 off 40); their batters were foxed by the combined might of India's top pacers and spinners, including Babar.
Shahid Afridi, who is also the father-in-law of Shaheen, was brutal in his assessment post match.
"If It was in my hands, I would not pick Babar, Shadab and Shaheen again in the T20 team. They have had plenty of chances to come through for Pakistan but failed again yesterday," former captain Shahid Afridi said.
Afridi said it was time to groom younger players in the format. While Shaheen was hammered for 31 runs in two overs, Babar was cleaned up by Axar Patel for five while attempting a slog even though his team was three down for 13 runs in a steep chase of 176.
Our Players Didn't Show Character: Miandad
Former skipper and batting great Javed Miandad was not even willing to speak elaborately on the loss but acknowledged that Pakistan's cricket team has been unable to fight when put under pressure.
"Bhai bade matches main hi players ko character dikhana padta hai, woh hamare players nahi dekha paye (In big matches, players have to show character. Unfortunately our players didn't show that character).
Time Up For Shaheen, Babar And Shadab: Yousaf
Mohammad Yousaf, another former captain who has always backed Babar, also said that the debacle should end the T20 careers of Babar and Shaheen.
"Time's up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan's T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides," Yousaf posted on X.
Babar Played His Final T20I Game: Ahmed Shahzad
Ahmed Shehzad, a vocal critic of Babar for a while now, felt Babar had played his final game for Pakistan in the format.
"Babar gone once again. Maybe it was his last dance to prove his worth in this format," Shehzad wrote on X.
India Way Ahead: Moin Khan
Former captain, Moin Khan said perhaps it was time to accept that India were a far more superior side to Pakistan in any format right now.
"We got our hopes up again this time but as a professional cricketer there was always that lingering feeling that the Indian players will come through when it mattered the most," Moin said.
