Pakistan’s humiliating exit from T20 World Cup, angry PCB chief may trigger major overhaul, careers of these 4 stars at risk

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup ended in disappointing fashion. Although Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka national cricket team in their final Super-8 match on Saturday, the win could not save them as they missed the semifinal spot due to an inferior net run rate. This marks the third consecutive time Pakistan has failed to reach the semifinals of the tournament, triggering concerns of major changes in the team setup.

Reports suggest that Mohsin Naqvi, chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, is unhappy with the team’s performance. Captain Salman Ali Agha could lose his leadership role, while senior players including Babar Azam, Usman Khan and Shadab Khan may face tough decisions regarding their T20 futures. Head coach Mike Hesson has reportedly advised the board to shift focus toward younger talent to build a team suited for modern T20 demands.

Poor team selections and questionable batting order decisions contributed significantly to Pakistan’s struggles. Apart from Sahibzada Farhan, the batting lineup failed to deliver consistently. The management’s decision to push Fakhar Zaman down the order raised concerns. When finally allowed to open against Sri Lanka, he scored a quick 84 off 42 balls. In bowling, only Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Tariq made notable contributions.

Pakistan’s journey in the tournament saw mixed results. The team entered the Super-8 after wins over Netherlands national cricket team, United States national cricket team and Namibia national cricket team, despite a loss to India national cricket team. However, a rain-affected match against New Zealand national cricket team and a heavy defeat to England national cricket team hurt their chances. Ultimately, England and New Zealand secured semifinal qualification from the group.