Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board to have honest conversations with Babar Azam about his T20 future, following Pakistan’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday.
SL vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2026: Scorecard | Highlights
Pakistan were knocked out despite beating Sri Lanka by five runs in their final Super 8s fixture. New Zealand qualified for the semifinals ahead of them based on a superior net run rate.
Invited to bat, Pakistan posted 212 for 8 with Sahibzada Farhan striking a stunning century and Fakhar Zaman contributing 84 in a record-breaking 176-run stand. Pakistan needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or fewer, but Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 76 off 31 balls and Pavan Rathnayake’s 58 guided the co-hosts to 207 for 6. Abrar Ahmed took three wickets, but it was not enough, as Pakistan and New Zealand finished level on three points, with the Kiwis progressing on better net run rate. England had already sealed their semifinal berth after winning all three of their Super 8s matches.
Speaking on Star Sports after Pakistan’s elimination, Pujara pointed directly to Babar’s future as a pressing concern for the management.
“There has to be an honest conversation with Babar Azam. If he is not in the team’s plans going forward, that message needs to come clearly from the management. He needs to know where he stands,” Pujara said.
Babar, who was dropped for the must-win Sri Lanka clash, managed just 91 runs in six tournament appearances at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT BABAR
While Babar has drawn the most scrutiny, Pujara was keen to shift focus to the broader failings of the side.
“It would be unfair to place all the blame on Babar. There is a lot of focus on him, but ultimately, it is the unit that has failed. The middle order needs serious attention, and that has to be addressed,” he said.
FAKHAR ZAMAN SHOWS THE WAY FORWARD
Amid the disappointment, Pujara pointed to Fakhar Zaman’s performance as a blueprint for Pakistan’s future in T20 cricket.
“Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order looks really good and sets the tone for this Pakistan side. This is how Pakistan have played their best T20 cricket, fearless and aggressive, going after bowlers from ball one. That 176-run stand was outstanding and a reminder of what this team is capable of. They have done it before, and they will need to do it again,” he added.
For Pakistan, the rebuilding process starts now. And if tonight’s performance offered any indication of the direction they should take, it is that Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order is no longer a question but a necessity.
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