After the disappointing performance in T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a big step. According to reports, each player of the team has been fined 50 lakh Pakistani rupees (about 16 lakh Indian rupees) for failing to make it to the semi-finals. According to Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune, this decision was taken after the group stage defeat against India and the defeat by England in the Super-8. Although the team registered a close win against Sri Lanka, it could not pave the way for the semi-finals. It is being told that the board officials were very angry with the performance of the team and this strict step was taken in view of the continuous failure in ICC tournaments.
Strong reaction from veterans
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad took a tough stance and said, ‘You get one chance in two years to leave a mark on your country’s cricket and then you fail. It is very disappointing to see this. He further said that T20 has now become a highly planned format and Pakistan players are not able to reach the level of other teams. Former captain Mohammad Yusuf also raised questions on the selection policy. He said, ‘Some players were given a lot of opportunities to prove themselves, but they could not perform in big tournaments. Now is the time to move forward and learn from mistakes. Moeen Khan said in clear words, ‘Unless you have the ability to defeat higher ranked teams, you cannot win the ICC trophy. We made a lot of mistakes both in selection and on the field.
Questions on captaincy and senior players
Former captain Babar Azam, current captain Salman Ali Aga, and senior players like Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz are facing severe criticism. There is news that Agha may leave the captaincy. Former coach Saqlain Mushtaq is also in controversies. He is accused of blaming head coach Mike Hesson while defending the performance of his son-in-law Shadab Khan.
Is fine the solution?
Pakistan ended the tournament with a win, but the entire campaign left the country’s cricket atmosphere disappointed. The question is arising whether merely imposing a fine will solve the team’s problems, or is there a need for major changes in selection, strategy and leadership?
