Pakistan's national cricket team is undergoing significant changes after a disappointing performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The team failed to advance past the group stage, marking their worst-ever finish in the tournament's history. This early exit, including a shocking loss to the United States and a narrow defeat against arch-rivals India, has triggered widespread criticism and a promise of "major surgery" from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).[wisden+3]
2024 Tournament: A Campaign of Missed Opportunities
The 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, saw Pakistan finish third in Group A. They secured wins against Canada and Ireland, but crucial losses to the USA in a Super Over and by six runs to India ended their hopes for the Super Eight stage.Captain Babar Azam openly apologized to fans for the team's performance, attributing the failure largely to poor batting.He noted that the team "lost two crucial matches even when we were in charge" and acknowledged that "we all made a mistake."[wisden+5]
Top batsmen, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, struggled to score, managing a combined 100 runs in four matches.Other key players like Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Usman Khan also failed to make significant contributions with the bat.All-rounder Imad Wasim suggested the team needed a complete reset in its white-ball approach, a sentiment echoed by Babar Azam.[humenglish+2]
Coaching and Captaincy Turmoil
The period leading up to and following the 2024 T20 World Cup was marked by instability within the team's leadership. Babar Azam, who had previously stepped down as captain in all formats after the 2023 50-over World Cup, was reinstated as white-ball skipper ahead of the 2024 T20 tournament.This decision came after Shaheen Shah Afridi's brief stint as T20I captain, which ended after just one series loss to New Zealand.[aljazeera+2]
In April 2024, the PCB appointed Gary Kirsten as the head coach for white-ball formats, with Jason Gillespie taking charge of the Test team.Kirsten, who previously led India to a Cricket World Cup victory in 2011, joined the team after the Indian Premier League.However, the early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 led to further questions about coaching and selection committee structures.The PCB indicated that a major overhaul was planned, with at least six players expected to be dropped and the large nine-member selection committee potentially disbanded.[icc-cricket+4]
Following the 2024 tournament, Babar Azam again stepped down as white-ball captain in October 2024, with Mohammad Rizwan succeeding him.Rizwan's captaincy began with a historic series win against Australia.[wisden+1]
Pakistan's T20 World Cup History
Pakistan has a mixed but notable history in the T20 World Cup, participating in all nine editions of the tournament. They were champions in 2009, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.The team has also been runners-up twice, in the inaugural 2007 edition (losing to India) and in 2022 (losing to England).They reached the semi-finals in 2010, 2012, and 2021.The 2024 group stage exit was described as their worst performance ever in a T20 World Cup.[en+9]
The 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia saw Pakistan make a remarkable run to the final despite a challenging group stage. They secured a semi-final spot on the final day of the Super 12s, with key performances from Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan.Shaheen Afridi was a standout bowler in that tournament.However, they ultimately lost to England in the final by five wickets.[icc-cricket+2]
Looking Ahead to 2026
As of January 2026, Pakistan is preparing for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.The Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, led by captain Salman Ali Agha.The squad includes a mix of experienced players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan, alongside new faces such as Faheem Ashraf and Khawaja Mohammad Nafay.Pakistan is placed in Group A and will play their opening match against the Netherlands in Colombo.[icc-cricket+6]
The team is currently playing a three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore as part of their preparations.However, the upcoming tournament has seen some controversy, with the PCB considering a potential boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh, which was removed from the tournament.Pakistan has been granted a concession by the ICC to play all its league matches, including against India, in Sri Lanka due to political hostility.Former Pakistan cricketers have cautioned against a boycott, emphasizing the importance of maintaining relations with the ICC.[icc-cricket+8]
The Pakistan team faces a critical period to rebuild and prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup, aiming to overcome recent setbacks and reclaim their position as a top contender in international T20 cricket.
