Pakistan’s poor show in the T20 World Cup 2026 continued as they couldn’t qualify for the semi-finals as well. In the Super 8 stage, Pakistan’s first match against New Zealand was washed out due to rain, and then they lost to England. Although they beat Sri Lanka in their final game, they were eliminated as New Zealand reached the semi-finals based on a superior net run rate as well.
However, after Pakistan’s exit, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik took a humorous dig at former England players Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton for their earlier remarks about Team India during the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.
In an interaction, Karthik said that despite Pakistan playing all their matches in Colombo and becoming familiar with the conditions, they still failed to reach the semi-finals, showing their lack of skill. In contrast, India had played all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai last year and lifted the trophy.
However, during that Champions Trophy campaign, both 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 one hotel, knew the pitches well – and both you fossils complained that this was the reason India did so well in the Champions Trophy. By that logic, Pakistan should have done something in this World Cup,” Karthik said, leaving both of them in splits.
However, Atherton had earlier said on the Sky Sports Podcast: “What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me a hard-to-quantify but undeniable advantage.”
On the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly fined each national team player PKR 5 million (Rs 16.28 lakh) for their poor show in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, according to Express Tribune. The report also claimed that the decision was triggered by Pakistan’s group-stage defeat to India.
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