‘Bit of a disaster’: Pakistan assailed for poor performance after India run riot

Published
1
India’s Varun Chakravarthy (C) celebrates with wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 15. — AFP
India’s Varun Chakravarthy (C) celebrates with wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between India and Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 15. — AFP

Pakistan on Sunday lost their blockbuster clash with arch-rivals India by 61 runs, being bowled out for 114 in Colombo.

With the win against Pakistan, India made it to the Super Eight. Pakistan, however, will have to beat Namibia in their last group-stage match on February 18 to qualify for the next round.

After the match, criticism of the national team’s performance flooded social media, coming from former players and cricketing icons.

Former Pakistan player and commentator Ramiz Raja called the match “a bit of a disaster — especially batting”.

“India have been fielding [the] same bowling attack against Pakistan since last two or three years, and every time [the] batsmen have been woefully ordinary,” he said in a post on X, adding that there was no growth.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf took aim at Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Shadab Khan, saying that “time’s up” for them.

“Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides,” he said.

Former opener Ahmed Shahzad called Pakistan’s performance “pathetic cricket” and said it was the “sad story of Pakistan cricket. Same old faces, same old results. Please don’t fool the nation anymore.”

However, he noted that there was still time to bring in some positive change by bringing in Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay and Salman Mirza.

“They should be playing,” he added.

Pakistan player Sohaib Maqsood criticised Pakistan’s bowling, calling it “by far the reason for today’s defeat”.

“It’s not a 180 [run] pitch, even 140 could have been tough to chase on this pitch,” Maqsood said on X.

He added that Pakistan prepared on similar pitches against Australia at home before [the] World Cup, noting that “Agha won all the tosses and batted first. Why [choose] to bowl first today?”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan opined that India “seem to intimidate Pakistan on the cricket field”.

“They (India) are so much better in all facets of the game and [have] such a better mentality of coping with the huge occasion,” he said.

Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle stated that Pakistan’s cricket administration put far too much pressure on the team.

“You could see that in how tentative they were,” he wrote on X.


Sports presenter and television host Zainab Abbas said the game was turning out to be a “one-sided affair” & “really indicative” of the gap between the two sides over the years.

“That said, Pakistan did not even come close to playing to its potential, bowled poorly & batted recklessly,” she continued.

In her X post, she said, “The ones Pakistan have backed and relied on in bilaterals have put up a poor show in tournaments & not for the first time.”

Former Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar said that the powerplay was where India took the game away from Pakistan.

In his X post, the Indian batting icon said, “Ishan Kishan in the first innings, and the clinical bowling we saw in the second innings, made all the difference.”

“We were always in the driver’s seat. India rocked it tonight!” he hailed.

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...