Numbers narrate naivety: 3 problems that could shatter Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 dreams

Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha (Source: AFP) 

The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is underway in Sri Lanka, with the Men in Green gearing up for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The team is playing in the SL T20Is without their two key players, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. 

Babar happened to be unavailable for the selection owing to his BBL 2025-26 stint with the Sydney Sixers. On the other hand, Shaheen was ruled out of the BBL due to his knee injury. However, both the star players are expected to be back in the Pakistan squad for the prestigious cricket biennial starting next month. 

Meanwhile, the World T20 2009 champions will also aim to end their 17-year-long wait for the T20 World Cup title since they won it last time in the tournament’s second edition. However, they are grappling with several concerns ahead of the marquee international tournament, which could impact their hopes of winning the title. 

Hence, here’s a look at the three problems that could put Pakistan’s title dreams in jeopardy during the early stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. 

The fragile middle-order with on-paper depth 

Pakistan have played 44 T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2024 concluded. Out of these 44 games, they have lost the top three wickets within the first four overs in 24 games, the most among the top-eight ranked T20I teams. 

When Pakistan's middle-order (5-8) exposed in 4-10 overs since T20 World Cup 2024

It further translates into the fact that their middle order has been exposed even before the time openers would have settled there in the middle. On these 24 occasions, Pakistan’s batters at numbers five to eight have come to bat within the first 10 overs of their innings, scoring just 291 runs in 24 innings, with a dismal average of 15.32, including 19 dismissals, the most among the top-eight ranked T20I sides. 

When Pakistan's middle-order (5-8) exposed in first 4-10 overs (Lost Games) since T20 World Cup 2024

When Pakistan's middle-order (5-8) exposed in first 4-10 overs (Won Games) since T20 World Cup 2024

In what seems to be a profound batting misery for the Men in Green, they have lost 16 out of these 24 games when their middle order has been exposed before the power play ended. In the lost games, they have scored just 203 runs, in 16 innings, with a horrific average of 11.94, hitting just 13 fours and seven sixes. Even in the eight games Pakistan have won, it has been more to the credit of the bowlers, as the middle order has scored just 88 runs, with six fours and two sixes.  

Therefore, the exposure of middle-order and lower middle-order within the first 10 overs questions Pakistan’s batting strength on two parameters: firstly, the top order’s ability to deal with the new ball, and secondly, the middle order’s incompetence to stabilize the innings after an early collapse. 

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The toothless death bowling 

The death bowling is one of the quintessential elements a team needs to win games in the shortest format of the game. It includes the need to have a productive and lethal death bowling module, be it in the first innings or the second innings. Speaking of Pakistan, they have bowled during death overs in 37 games out of their 44 T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Pakistan's death bowling (in 16-20 overs) since T20 World Cup 2024

Pakistan's death bowling (16-20 overs) numbers since T20 World Cup 2024

In these 37 games, they have scalped 88 wickets after bowling 151.2 overs, with an expensive economy rate of 8.73. Apart from that, they have bowled during death overs on 16 occasions in the first innings, alongside 21 times in the second innings. 

They have won 23 games out of 37, in which they have bowled in the death overs, but as there’s a famous cricketing notion that “numbers can be deceptive”, the same applies in the case of Pakistan’s T20I wins since the T20 World Cup 2024. They have won a total of 24 games in their 44 T20Is, which also includes the aforementioned 23 when they bowled during the death phase.  

Pakistan's death bowling (in 16-20 overs) in first innings since T20 World Cup 2024

Pakistan's death bowling (in 16-20 overs) in second innings since T20 World Cup 2024

Interestingly, the 23 games they have won when they bowled in death overs include nine games which they won owing to a successful run chase by the batters. Even in the 14 games that they have won while bowling during the death phase in the second innings, they have won none against any of the top-five ranked teams, including India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. 

Now, if Pakistan's 24 wins in their total 44 T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2024 are placed under the microscope, the numbers will expose how vulnerable their position could be at the T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan records against all teams they took on since T20 World Cup 2024

 Pakistan have played 16 T20Is against four out of the five top-ranked T20I teams. In these 16 games, they have won just three, one against New Zealand in New Zealand and two against South Africa in Pakistan. 

Apart from this horrific stat, they have played 28 games against the teams that are either lower-ranked or struggling in transition. The list includes the teams like Oman, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, UAE, and Afghanistan. In these 28 games, they have won 20, lost 7, and had one abandoned game against Sri Lanka.  

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Lack of visionary leadership in the fast-paced format

Last but not the least, what could really jeopardize Pakistan's aspirations in the T20 World Cup 2026 is the lack of visionary leadership according to the format’s demand. The current skipper, Salman Ali Agha, and his own performances have been one of the primary reasons behind the Men in Green’s miseries in the shortest format of the game. 

Salman Agha's captaincy record in T20Is

Out of his T20I career’s 41 games, he has captained Pakistan in 39, with 24 wins and 15 defeats, which include only three wins against top-five-ranked T20I sides. Speaking of his performances as captain, he has scored 687 runs in 36 innings, with a below-par average of 24.53, hitting just five half-centuries. 

Salman Agha's batting records as captain in T20Is 

Notably, his runs as captain are just four runs short of his T20I career’s total of 691 runs in 38 innings. Speaking of his contribution the Pakistan's wins, he has scored 375 runs in 21 innings across the 24 won games, with an average of 25.00 and a strike rate of 118.30, hitting three half-centuries. But there's another twist: he has just one half-century that helped Pakistan beat New Zealand, one of the top five-ranked teams in T20Is. 

Salman Agha's batting records as captain in Pakistan's T20I wins and losses 

In wins

In Losses

In the lost games as captain for Pakistan, he has scored 312 runs in 15 innings, with a dismal batting average of 24.00 and a below-par strike rate of 105.40, hitting two half-centuries. 

Apart from his dismal individual performances, Salman Agha’s decision-making and leadership skills have also been under the scanner during high-stakes games. For instance, his decisions and captaincy approach faced severe criticism after three consecutive defeats against the arch-rivals, India, in the Asia Cup 2025. 

Hence, the captaincy might also be one of the significant factors that could shatter Pakistan’s title dreams in the T20 World Cup 2026. 

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