Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2026 despite beating Sri Lanka. The team failed to improve its net run rate enough by restricting Sri Lanka below 147, and was eliminated even after winning by five runs at Pallekele on February 28, 2026.
Pakistan scored 212/8 batting first, but could not keep Sri Lanka to a low total. As a result, Pakistan could not finish ahead of New Zealand on net run rate and exited the tournament.
After the match, Pakistan captain Salman Agha explained what went wrong. He said losing the toss hurt Pakistan, and heavy dew made bowling difficult. He added that defending a target while trying to keep the opposition under 148 in such conditions is always tough.
Agha also admitted Pakistan’s batting did not click throughout the tournament. He said only Sahibzada Farhan consistently performed, and the long-standing middle-order issue remained a concern. Salman Agha added Pakistan fell short by around 10–15 runs in the final overs, which could have changed the overall outcome.
Also Read: Sri Lanka T20 World Cup 2026 Exit After 5-Run Loss to Pakistan, Captain Dasun Shanaka Apologizes