Pakistan’s poor show within the T20 World Cup 2026 continued as they couldn’t qualify for the semi-finals as well. Within the Super 8 stage, Pakistan’s first match against Latest Zealand was washed out attributable to rain, after which they lost to England. Although they beat Sri Lanka of their final game, they were eliminated as Latest Zealand reached the semi-finals based on a superior net run rate as well.
Nonetheless, after Pakistan’s exit, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik took a humorous dig at former England players Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton for his or her earlier remarks about Team India through the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.
In an interaction, Karthik said that despite Pakistan playing all their matches in Colombo and becoming accustomed to the conditions, they still failed to achieve the semi-finals, showing their lack of skill. In contrast, India had played all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai last 12 months and lifted the trophy.
Nonetheless, during that Champions Trophy campaign, each Hussain and Atherton had said that India enjoyed an “advantage” by not having to travel and playing at a single venue as well.
“I expected Pakistan to qualify for the semis because they played consistently in Colombo, stayed in a single hotel, knew the pitches well – and each you fossils complained that this was the rationale India did so well within the Champions Trophy. By that logic, Pakistan must have done something on this World Cup,” Karthik said, leaving each of them in splits.
Nonetheless, Atherton had earlier said on the Sky Sports Podcast: “What in regards to the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me a hard-to-quantify but undeniable advantage.”
Alternatively, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly fined each national team player PKR 5 million (Rs 16.28 lakh) for his or her poor show within the T20 World Cup semi-finals, based on Express Tribune. The report also claimed that the choice was triggered by Pakistan’s group-stage defeat to India.
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