Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has criticized the team’s leadership after their heavy defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026. The high-profile match took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
Speaking to ARY News, Kamran Akmal raised concerns about captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision-making. He questioned the delay in introducing Usman Tariq into the bowling attack. Tariq, often described as a “trump card,” bowled only in the 11th over.
Akmal said it was hard to understand this move. He noted that there had been strong discussion about Tariq’s potential threat before the match. However, he was not used early when pressure was needed.
Kamran Akmal also questioned the use of other bowlers. He asked why Shaheen Afridi was not given overs during the middle phase. He also wondered why Faheem Ashraf did not bowl at all.
According to Akmal, the team showed a lack of game awareness. He said there was no clear planning from the toss to the final overs. He added that the match followed a predictable Pakistan-India pattern. In his view, the team lacked a strong and clear strategy.
When assessing Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy, Kamran Akmal described it as “average.” He said he did not see strong leadership qualities during the game.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also reacted strongly to the defeat. He criticized the senior players for their performance. Afridi expressed disappointment over the team’s approach and execution.
In the match, India posted 175 for 7 in their 20 overs. Ishan Kishan played a key role with a quick 77 runs. Pakistan’s spin bowlers managed to slow the scoring after the openers were dismissed. However, the total proved too challenging.
Pakistan struggled during the chase. The team was bowled out for 114 runs in 18 overs. India secured a comfortable victory in front of a packed crowd.
The result added to Pakistan’s poor record against India in World Cup matches. The defeat has sparked fresh debate about leadership and team planning.
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