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Lessons learned from Pakistan's 2026 World Cup exit

Pakistan played approximately 33 T20's against the likes of New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia in 2025/2026. We were heavily thrashed by New Zealand and India.

I knew full well playing against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or even Zimbabwe was not going to add any value. We don't get any cricket against the strongest teams and even when we do, they send their C and D teams.

I think its a sad reality that the Pakistani players struggle to deal with the pressure involved in ICC tournaments.
 
Lesson learnt that this side under Naqvi and Hesson is a disaster... Salman should be sacked asap... Shadab, nawaz, Shaheen, saim should be dropped asap... Babar's t20 run is over.... Farhan and Fakhar are your 2 openers next. Bring some guys who actually are not bits and pieces guys... We cannot have all rounder obsession anymore.
 
That title of threads should be changed to lessons not learned. Otherwise people need to realize we are a 5th rank team at best and normally 6th to 8th (even WI can be better on normal batting pitch, and everyone forgot Australia who also on batting pitch would beat us)
Once you realize that there is no need for lessons threads.
 
Jokes aside if there is one lesson, not playing Abrar against England was the dumbest decision which probably cost the semi spot more than any other game or selection
 
mon858 said:
Jokes aside if there is one lesson, not playing Abrar against England was the dumbest decision which probably cost the semi spot more than any other game or selection
Click to expand...
Another blunder we made
 
There will be no lesson learnt, some players will be dropped for a series or two , then they will be back deep down PCB knows they ve become a minnow.
 
It's cute how people always seem to think there are batsmen available in Pakistan who are ready to be international level batsmen ?

Pakistan was never known for producing strong batsmen. I'm aware of the greats who have represented Pakistan in the past but their strength was always in their bowling and gritty middle order batsman.

The modern game ensures that the Pakistani batters are still in the 2010s. Atleast 15 years in the past.
 

Shoaib Akhtar Takes Brutal Dig At Mohsin Naqvi After T20 World Cup Exit: "Seriously Wrong"​


Shoaib Akhtar took a dig at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi after the Pakistan cricket team crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2026. Although Pakistan registered a narrow win over Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 match, they failed to sufficiently improve their Net Run Rate (NRR), as the Salman Ali Agha-led side lost out to New Zealand in the race for the semifinals. The former Pakistan pacer criticized Naqvi, stating that although the PCB chief is one of the most powerful chairmen in history, he has failed to build a strong management structure. Akhtar also pointed out that Pakistan has failed to reach the semifinals of its last four ICC events, including the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

"Pakistan's management looks completely clueless. Today's team selection only confirmed that the XI picked over the last 15 days was wrong. There was one clear error: Saim Ayub should have played instead of Khawaja Nafay," Akhtar said on Tapmad.

"This selection showed that when you pick the right players for the right roles, they perform. Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener, yet he was not played earlier. Today, Farhan, Fakhar, and Abrar all delivered," he added.

The ex-cricketer did not mince his words, saying that if Pakistan continuously fails to reach the business end of competitions, it only shows that "something is seriously wrong within the board."

"I have nothing against Mohsin Naqvi. From what I hear, he is a good person. He is one of the most powerful chairmen in Pakistan's cricket history. He has influence, resources, and authority," he said.

"But if he (Naqvi) can't build a strong management structure and the team has failed to qualify in four consecutive tournaments, then something is seriously wrong within the board," Akhtar added.

 
Savak said:
Pakistan played approximately 33 T20's against the likes of New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia in 2025/2026. We were heavily thrashed by New Zealand and India.

I knew full well playing against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or even Zimbabwe was not going to add any value. We don't get any cricket against the strongest teams and even when we do, they send their C and D teams.

I think its a sad reality that the Pakistani players struggle to deal with the pressure involved in ICC tournaments.
Click to expand...
What about West Indies? As a team don't they get similar exposure (or lack of exposure rather) like Pakistan but they seem to be absorbing and playing well in pressure situations - at least way better than Pakistan?
 
I think Pakistan learned their lesson very late by picking the correct XI in their last match of the tournament. They could have taken bold decisions earlier.
 
Cover Drive Six said:
I think Pakistan learned their lesson very late by picking the correct XI in their last match of the tournament. They could have taken bold decisions earlier.
Click to expand...
Was it actually a correct XI? I mean it was against a demoralized SL team and Pak team as a whole **** the bed, with ump bailing them out.

They need to go back to the seniors

RizBarRauf-SSA quad is the only path forward for PCT
 
Ooh this is my favorite thread, after every tournament.

This many lessons, even a PHD Economics hasn't received at Harvard.

Pakistani cricket people must be really really keen students.
 
Imagine running a team with this combo:
  1. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Saim)
  2. A proper bat (Farhan)
  3. Specialist captain who ain’t even good at that part
  4. Opener (Babar)
  5. Opener (Usman)
  6. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Shadab)
  7. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Nawaz)
  8. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Faheem)
  9. Specialist pacer (Shaheen/Mirza)
  10. Specialist spinner (Abrar)
  11. Specialist spinner (Tariq)
We literally played four openers throughout the tourney, and our tail basically started at 5.

For the future we desp need to build a team around proper specialists, more like the Saffers/Ozes rather than Ind/Poms. It was evident throughout this WC as well that the actual specialists performed well (Usman Tariq, Abrar, Fakhar, Farhan) while the confused misfits underperformed. Lack of clarity, zero structure and a team built around underperforming misfits - so not quite sure why one would be surprised by the results.
 
MoJoJoJo said:
Imagine running a team with this combo:
  1. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Saim)
  2. A proper bat (Farhan)
  3. Specialist captain who ain’t even good at that part
  4. Opener (Babar)
  5. Opener (Usman)
  6. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Shadab)
  7. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Nawaz)
  8. Ain’t clear if he’s a batter who can bowl or a bowler who can bat (Faheem)
  9. Specialist pacer (Shaheen/Mirza)
  10. Specialist spinner (Abrar)
  11. Specialist spinner (Tariq)
We literally played four openers throughout the tourney, and our tail basically started at 5.

For the future we desp need to build a team around proper specialists, more like the Saffers/Ozes rather than Ind/Poms. It was evident throughout this WC as well that the actual specialists performed well (Usman Tariq, Abrar, Fakhar, Farhan) while the confused misfits underperformed. Lack of clarity, zero structure and a team built around underperforming misfits - so not quite sure why one would be surprised by the results.
Click to expand...
Hesson strategy to play with fake all rounders was so stupid
 
The 2026 exit feels like a repeat of every tactical blunder we've seen since 2022. Here is my take on your points:

  • Retention: Fakhar proved his worth as an opener (too late) against Sri Lanka, and Abrar should have been the primary spinner all along. Fahim remains a useful utility player, but we need more consistent power hitting.
  • The "Big Names": Babar and Rizwan being dropped for the Bangladesh series shows the PCB is finally listening. Their strike rates at 4 and 5 were a misfit for the modern game. Shaheen and Shadab need a long break to find their rhythm in domestic cricket they’ve looked burnt out.
  • Hesson & Management: Mike Hesson’s "unilateral" style clearly caused a rift. If the reports of players complaining to the PCB are true, his position is untenable regardless of his contract.
Captaincy & Replacements:
  • Captain: With Agha’s future uncertain and Babar out, Shaheen Afridi has been handed the ODI captaincy for now. If we want a long-term tactical shift, Sahibzada Farhan is a strong candidate given his record-breaking 383 runs this tournament.
  • Replacements: The Bangladesh squad already shows the path: Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain at the top, with Abdul Samad and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (WK) providing the middle-order aggression we've lacked for years.
 
This has been going on since last 20+ years, nothing has been learnt, nothing will be learned.

Pakistan will continue being a mediocre team till their fix their country, once their country is fixed (if ever) cricket and other sports will automatically improve.
 
big_gamer007 said:
This has been going on since last 20+ years, nothing has been learnt, nothing will be learned.

Pakistan will continue being a mediocre team till their fix their country, once their country is fixed (if ever) cricket and other sports will automatically improve.
Click to expand...
Sad and harsh reality
 
big_gamer007 said:
This has been going on since last 20+ years, nothing has been learnt, nothing will be learned.

Pakistan will continue being a mediocre team till their fix their country, once their country is fixed (if ever) cricket and other sports will automatically improve.
Click to expand...
That would require acknowledgment that your past leaders f'd up all the way up to its founders. Applies to both sides of sub continental divide.

some thing you have had reservations about doing....

I hope in Paksitan's case that it doesn't happen
 
rpant_gabba said:
That would require acknowledgment that your past leaders f'd up all the way up to its founders. Applies to both sides of sub continental divide.

some thing you have had reservations about doing....

I hope in Paksitan's case that it doesn't happen
Click to expand...

I never had any reservations about past mistakes or present mistakes of any leaders.
The thing about India is that past leaders are all dead for decades and the current leaders are hiding their own incompetence by putting blame on past leaders.
That cycle needs to end and current leaders need to take ownership and accountability of their mistakes.
 
1) PCB played regional politics hiding behind Pakistan and Bangladesh team.

2) its a minnows team

3) Pakistan e -cricketers focusing on their team's performance, they all were busy in criticising BCCI and Indian team
 
The biggest thing Pak should have learnt is not to get over obsessed with India, but that's not the case after hearing the latest statement from SSA on 2027 odi world cup. He stated that they forget about the past and Pak will this time defeat India in the final and win the world cup. So, it means he pre-decided that India will be the finalist and he will defeat only them in the final..This kind of thought process will only make you more vulnerable and as well idiotic..
 
chakdeindian said:
The biggest thing Pak should have learnt is not to get over obsessed with India, but that's not the case after hearing the latest statement from SSA on 2027 odi world cup. He stated that they forget about the past and Pak will this time defeat India in the final and win the world cup. So, it means he pre-decided that India will be the finalist and he will defeat only them in the final..This kind of thought process will only make you more vulnerable and as well idiotic..
Click to expand...
This trundler fool will be removed soon from Odi captaincy
 
Biggest lesson for me, is even if your impact player is out of form you play him (Fakhar Zaman) and you play your best fast bowler in the squad every game as well (Naseem).
 
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