Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Mohsin Naqvi and head coach Mike Hesson (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan cricket’s recurring pattern of hype followed by disappointment and backlash has resurfaced once again after another underwhelming run. An early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Super Eight stage was followed by a 1-2 ODI series loss in Bangladesh, triggering sharp criticism from former opener Ahmed Shehzad.Shehzad’s remarks were not limited to selection debates or leadership questions. Instead, he targeted what he believes is a deeper structural issue within the Pakistan Cricket Board. According to him, the board spent years promoting a select group of players as the faces of both the national team and the Pakistan Super League, only to find itself struggling when results began to decline.“The calibre of your players is not at that level, which was built up as a baran by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 and 7 years ago. These 6-8 boys they are also the face of the PSL. They are also the face of our Pakistan team. Will they change Pakistan’s desitny?” Ahmed Shehzad questioned in a video posted on his YouTube channel.He further accused the board of heavily backing this core group through endorsements, leadership roles, and financial support, while failing to ensure accountability.“You provided all the sponsorships to those boys, endorsed them, and invested money in them. You have them captaincies in the PSL, right? You made them the thumb of the Pakistan team. You handed over the entire Pakistan cricket team to those 6 boys and their agents. And what have they done now? The fire they have lit in the jungle, the fun and parties they have had, the pockets they have filled, the enjoyment they have had, they haven’t given Pakistan any wins by doing so,” Shehzad said.His criticism reflects a long-standing concern around Pakistan cricket’s approach, where certain players are repeatedly elevated as central figures without consistent results to justify that backing. Shehzad argued that the issue is not just performance but the lack of responsibility shown by the players.“Such is the audacity that even today, they are ready to admit that we are responsible. Not a single one of those players. Even today, they play the blame game. Even today, their ego is such that it isn’t breaking. So weak is the Pakistan Cricket Board now,” he added.He also questioned the board’s authority, suggesting it has lost control over the very players it empowered.“Whenever you talk about any player, they start spinning stories. I have never seen the Pakistan Cricket Board this weak in my life, as weak as this PCB is. They have power, right? But in their decision-making, they appear to be kneeling before their players. This PCB can’t do anything. The work they were supposed to do – bringing in new faces – they didn’t. What they do is, after every event, they try to pull a new trick, but the public has now caught their pattern,” he said.For Shehzad, the issue goes far beyond a single series defeat or tournament exit. He believes Pakistan cricket is grappling with a larger systemic problem, where star-making has taken precedence over renewal and accountability, leaving the team stuck in a cycle it has struggled to break.

Varun Chakravarthy and Sanju Samson. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Naman Awards ceremony, held to celebrate India’s cricketing heroes, turned into a viral moment after Varun Chakravarthy made a light-hearted yet striking remark involving Sanju Samson.The meme remark came during the red carpet when Varun Chakravarthy and Sanju Samson arrived for the ceremony when asked about the world cup campaign from Varun and Sanju Samson, Varun’s meme remark on Samson grabs the attention of the people on social media.Varun Chakravarthy said: ‘There is meme going on social media, if there is a Mallu in the World Cup team, we never lose the World Cup’.Varun Chakravarthy’s remark on Sanju Samson came from the original things that Malayalam players have won us the world cup even before the T20 world cup 2026 by Samson. The Meme flooded on Social Media with people assuming where it came from.

Who Were The Malayali players who won the world cup previsouly

Malayali cricketers have played a remarkable “lucky charm” role in India’s major cricket World Cup victories, with at least one Kerala-born player in every winning squad since 1983.Sunil Valson (1983):- Part of Kapil Dev’s 1983 World Cup winning campaign, though did not play any matchesS. Sreesanth (2007 T20, 2011 ODI):- S. Sreesanth was the key bowler in India’s both World Cup victories, including taking the winning catch in 2007. Sanju Samson (2024 & 2026 T20):- Sanju was part of the T20 World Cup 2024 though he did not played any matches, In 2026 he became the Player of the tournament in India’s 3rd T20I title victory

The remark quickly went viral on social media, especially in the backdrop of India’s dominant triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where Samson played a pivotal role.

Sanju Samson’s dream World Cup campaign

Samson was one of the standout performers of the tournament and was eventually named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional contributions. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 321 runs in just five innings, averaging over 80 with a staggering strike rate close to 200, making him one of the most destructive batters in the competition.His performances in crucial matches defined India’s title-winning run:97 not out vs West Indies (Super 8) – a match-winning knock under pressure89 vs England (Semi-final) – a dominant innings in a knockout clash89 vs New Zealand (Final) – a blazing start that set up India’s title win

Varun Chakravarthy’s World Cup campaign

Varun Chakravarthy had a mixed yet impactful campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, playing a key role in India’s title-winning run. The mystery spinner emerged as one of the leading wicket-takers of the tournament, finishing with 14 wickets, showcasing his ability to break crucial partnerships in the middle overs. His standout performance came against the Netherlands, where he delivered a brilliant spell to seal a win for India.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, center, celebrates with teammates (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has stirred debate after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 by suggesting that the South Africa national cricket team made a tactical mistake by defeating the West Indies cricket team in their Super 8 clash.The encounter, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, ended with South Africa securing a comfortable nine-wicket victory. The result had a major impact on the tournament equation because it allowed the India national cricket team to remain in contention for the semi-finals. Later the same day, India beat the Zimbabwe national cricket team to keep their campaign alive.

Speaking on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast, Vaughan remarked that South Africa may have inadvertently helped India stay in the race by winning that particular game.“I tell you, who I think is the stupidest team of the tournament? South Africa. Because if South Africa had allowed the West Indies to beat them in the Super 8s, India would have been knocked out. I’m just saying – if they had cleared them out, the juggernaut that was coming would have stopped.”“By winning that game, they allowed the juggernaut to go on. India then beat Zimbabwe, then the West Indies in a kind of quarter-final, and then England. South Africa had to play Zimbabwe next, and they even rested three players for that match,” Vaughan said on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast.According to Vaughan, teams looking to win a World Cup sometimes benefit from eliminating the strongest side early in the competition rather than allowing them to gather momentum.“Look, these things shouldn’t happen and usually don’t happen. I’m just saying that if you want to win a World Cup, the best way is to eliminate the best team early,” Vaughan added.Following their victory over Zimbabwe, India’s next match against the West Indies effectively turned into a knockout contest. In that high-pressure game, Sanju Samson produced a match-winning unbeaten 97 to guide India to a five-wicket win and seal a place in the semi-finals while ending the West Indies’ campaign.Meanwhile, South Africa travelled to Kolkata for the first semi-final, where they faced the New Zealand national cricket team. Led by Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps dominated the contest and sealed a nine-wicket victory. The highlight of the chase was a sensational 33-ball century from Finn Allen, which helped New Zealand cruise into the final. India ultimately won the T20 World Cup 2026.

West Indies and South Africa players during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday addressed the travel disruption affecting several teams after the conclusion of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, saying the delays were caused by a major crisis in the Gulf region that has severely affected international air travel.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a detailed statement, the ICC acknowledged the frustration among players and support staff who have been unable to return home after completing their campaigns in the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.“We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns are anxious to return home,” the ICC said.“That they have not yet been able to do so is a source of genuine frustration, and the International Cricket Council shares that frustration.”

According to the global governing body, the delays stem from ongoing instability across the Gulf region that has led to widespread disruption of international aviation.The crisis has resulted in airspace closures, missile warnings, flight rerouting restrictions and last-minute cancellations of both commercial and charter flights. These developments have significantly complicated travel arrangements for teams leaving the subcontinent after the tournament.“These are conditions entirely outside the ICC’s control, and they have made each travel solution significantly more complex and time-consuming than under normal circumstances,” the statement said.ALSO READ: Reset or continuity? Gambhir & Agarkar face big calls after T20 World Cup triumphThe ICC confirmed it has been working continuously with airlines, charter operators, airport authorities, ground handlers and government agencies across several jurisdictions to secure safe travel arrangements for all affected teams.Among those impacted are the contingents from South Africa and West Indies. The ICC said members of the South African group will begin departing for South Africa on Wednesday night, with all expected to leave within the next 36 hours.Meanwhile, nine members of the West Indies contingent are already travelling back to the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 are scheduled to depart from India within the next 24 hours.The ICC also rejected suggestions circulating on social media that the travel decisions were influenced by factors other than safety and logistics.“The ICC rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare. Suggestions otherwise across a variety of media platforms from people uninformed of the situation are as unhelpful as they are incorrect,” the statement said.It further clarified that the arrangements made for South Africa and West Indies had no connection with travel arrangements earlier made for England or other nations, noting that each situation involved different routes, travel conditions and logistical challenges.Reiterating its stance, the ICC said the safety of players and their families remains the top priority.“Throughout this period, the ICC’s overriding priority has been the safety and welfare of everyone affected, including players travelling with spouses and young children. We will not move people until we are satisfied that the travel solution in place is safe.”The governing body thanked players, boards and partners for their patience and said teams remain in constant communication with officials as efforts continue to bring everyone home safely.

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (ANI Photo)

Quinton de Kock has criticised the International Cricket Council after reports suggested that England cricket team would return home before both South Africa national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team following their exits from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Travel plans for several teams have been affected due to international airspace restrictions linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. As a result, a number of sides have remained in India while waiting for charter flights arranged by the ICC. The West Indies were knocked out of the tournament on March 1 after a defeat to the India national cricket team in the Super 8 stage, while South Africa’s campaign ended with a semi final loss to the New Zealand national cricket team. Since then, both teams have remained in India awaiting travel arrangements. The Caribbean side has been in the country for about a week following their elimination, while the Proteas have been waiting for three days. In contrast, England were beaten by India in the second semi final on Thursday but are set to leave for home on Saturday, just two days after their exit. The situation prompted de Kock to question the apparent imbalance, suggesting that some teams might have greater influence within international cricket.

Quinton de kock’s insta story

“Funny @icc, we have heard nothing! Meanwhile, England are leaving before us somehow? @westindies and @proteasmencsa are just in the dark! Strange how different teams have more pull than others,” wrote Quinton de Kock on Instagram Stories. Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan also raised similar concerns about the travel situation. He questioned why England were able to leave earlier despite other teams being stuck in India for longer.

Michael Vaughan post

“So England got knocked out on Thurs, get a charter home today .. West Indies go out last Sunday and are still in Kolkata .. SA in the same position .. That’s where the power is all wrong .. All teams in this situation should be treated the same .. just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count .. #JustSaying,” he wrote on X. According to ESPNCricinfo, England are expected to depart on Saturday, while both South Africa and the West Indies are likely to leave on Sunday once charter flights organised by the ICC become available. England’s flight is scheduled to head directly to London. Meanwhile, South Africa and West Indies are set to travel first to Johannesburg, after which the Caribbean side will continue their journey to Antigua. However, neither team has officially confirmed the exact timing of their departures. Frustration within the West Indies camp has been visible. Head coach Daren Sammy posted “Day 6” on X on Friday, highlighting how long the team had been stranded in Kolkata since their match against India at the Eden Gardens. Earlier in the tournament, the Zimbabwe national cricket team also faced travel delays after playing their final match against South Africa on March 1 in New Delhi, before eventually departing India on March 4.

India’s Sanju Samson with head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has praised India head coach Gautam Gambhir for backing Sanju Samson, whose red-hot form with the bat has become one of the biggest talking points of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.Samson was drafted back into the Indian playing XI after the team lost to South Africa, in what was effectively a knockout clash against the West Indies cricket team. The wicketkeeper-batter seized the opportunity in style, smashing a superb 97 during a tense chase to guide India to victory. He carried that momentum into the semi-final, producing a blistering 89 off just 42 balls as India defeated the England cricket team to book a place in the final against the New Zealand national cricket team.

Speaking on the ‘Game On Hai’ show on PTV Sports, Akhtar explained that Samson’s return to the side was not a straightforward call. According to the former pacer, Gambhir had to strongly advocate for the batter’s inclusion within the team management setup.“Samson has been in the Indian cricket circuit since 2014. Back in the days when I was working in India, around 2015, there was a lot of hype surrounding him. He had to wait for a long time to get regular chances as India had wicketkeepers like MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik and others. Even now, Gambhir has fought with everyone to get him into the team. Basically, his selection has been done forcefully and after a lot scrutiny. He didn’t feature in the tournament initially,” said Akhtar in a video shared by Tapmad.Samson’s numbers in the tournament underline his remarkable run of form. In four matches so far, he has accumulated 232 runs at an impressive average of 77.33 and a strike rate of 201.73, including two half-centuries. His highest score remains the unbeaten 97 against West Indies in the virtual quarter-final in Kolkata.The 31-year-old also etched his name alongside Virat Kohli after his semi-final heroics. Samson’s 89 against England equalled Kohli’s record for the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup knockout match. Kohli had produced an identical 89 not out off 47 balls against the West Indies during the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2016 at the same venue.Samson has also dominated the six-hitting charts in this edition of the tournament. With 16 maximums to his name, he has already surpassed the previous Indian record of 15 sixes in a single T20 World Cup campaign, which was set by Rohit Sharma in the 2024 edition.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling after the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, saying the spinner’s confidence drops when batters attack him early in his spell.India reached the final after beating England by seven runs in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. Chakravarthy had a difficult outing in the match while defending a total of 253 runs.

The spinner conceded 64 runs and picked up one wicket. It became the joint second-most expensive bowling spell in a T20 World Cup match. He equalled the record of Sanath Jayasuriya, who had figures of 0/64 for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in Johannesburg in 2007.“What is happening with Varun is not that teams are attacking him or picking him. Everyone knows that Adil Rashid has a googly. Teams attacking or reading a bowler is normal — it happens to every cricketer. But if this happens, you have to be tactical. You cannot miss the lengths. Line and length variations with speed variations are important. Varun has to be spoken to,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.“Every time he gets attacked upfront, the confidence is going down further, because he knows he is catching up. I am tired of saying this again and again. From the last few games, I am saying this. Do not bowl from round the wicket to the left-hander,” he added.The most expensive bowling figures in a T20 World Cup match were recorded in this edition when Saurabh Netravalkar of the United States returned 0/65 against India.Chakravarthy now has the joint second-most expensive bowling figures for India in all T20 internationals. Prasidh Krishna holds the record with 0/68 against Australia in Guwahati in 2023, while Yuzvendra Chahal also had figures of 0/64 against South Africa in Durban in 2018.India will face New Zealand in the final of the tournament on Sunday, March 8 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.The two teams had also reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and will again meet in the final of an ICC tournament nearly a year later.

Rohit Sharma and Brendon McCullum (Screengrab)

Former India captain Rohit Sharma grabbed plenty of attention at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday night as India national cricket team defeated England cricket team to secure a place in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.Rohit, who captained India to the T20 World Cup title in the USA and West Indies two years ago, was present at the venue as a special guest. Before the semi-final began, he was involved in the pre-match ceremony, presenting the silverware and handing over the match ball. However, it was his lively interactions with players and staff from both camps that became a talking point even before the contest got underway.The former skipper first spent time with members of the Indian side, catching up with Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Siraj and India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel. After that, he walked across to the England dugout, where he met former captain Eoin Morgan and head coach Brendon McCullum.

Morgan and McCullum were both stunned by Rohit’s noticeable physical transformation. The former India captain has reportedly shed close to 10 kilograms as part of his fitness drive, and the change was clearly visible during his appearance at the ground.“In the shape of your life. What’s going on?” Morgan asked Rohit.“Just chilling,” Rohit replied.McCullum, meanwhile, had a humorous reaction when he saw the former opener. “Where’s the rest of you?” he remarked. Rohit responded with a smile, saying, “It’s all gone”.Rohit also shared a brief exchange with Suryakumar Yadav that seemed to lift the batter’s confidence ahead of the high-pressure clash. When Surya asked, “Do you think we’ll be able to pull it off?”, Rohit responded positively: “Yeah, obviously! We played so well in the last match too.” During another conversation, Rohit reassured bowling coach Morne Morkel about the conditions, telling him not to worry as the wind would stay consistent throughout the game.The semi-final marked the third consecutive T20 World Cup knockout meeting between India and England. England had dominated the 2022 clash with a 10-wicket victory before India returned the favour two years later.Thursday’s contest once again produced tense moments, especially when Jacob Bethell threatened to take the game away from India with a powerful innings. However, the match ultimately turned in India’s favour thanks to a superb finish from Jasprit Bumrah, whose final two overs conceded just 14’Where’s the Rest of You?’: Brendon McCullum runs.