The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fined national team players PKR 5 million (Rs 16.28 lakh) each after the squad failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals.
According to reports, the decision followed Pakistan’s loss to India in the group stage and their subsequent defeat to England in the Super 8. Although Pakistan managed a narrow win over Sri Lanka, the result was not enough to secure qualification. Board officials expressed strong dissatisfaction with the team’s overall performance.
Former captain Javed Miandad criticised the players, saying they failed to leave an imprint of cricketing excellence. He noted that T20 cricket has become highly methodical and Pakistan’s players struggle to match higher-ranked teams. Miandad urged the PCB to take radical decisions.
Mohammad Yousuf echoed similar concerns, stating that some players had received repeated opportunities but failed to deliver in major tournaments. He emphasised the need to move on and learn from mistakes.
Moin Khan added that Pakistan cannot win ICC events until they consistently defeat top teams. He lamented poor selection choices and the failure of key players to perform during the World Cup.
Senior cricketers, including former skipper Babar Azam, current captain Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz, now face intense criticism. Reports suggest Agha may step down from the leadership role after returning home.
Saqlain Mushtaq also drew flak for defending Shadab Khan’s performances while blaming head coach Mike Hesson. The fine imposed by PCB underscores the growing frustration within Pakistan cricket circles after yet another disappointing ICC campaign.
