The DugOut: PAK vs NAM Breakdown – What the Experts Are Saying on Tamasha After That Big Win

19 February 2026  

Karachi (late night, scrolling through Tamasha streams – can't sleep after that 102-run thrashing)

Guys, if you missed it, tune into The DugOut on Tamasha right now (or catch the replay) – it's the post-match show for Pakistan vs Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2026. Live insights, expert panel tearing into (and praising) the performance after we absolutely demolished Namibia by 102 runs in Colombo. Sahibzada Farhan's maiden T20I century (100* off 58), spinners running riot (Usman Tariq 4-16, Shadab and Nawaz picking up the rest), Namibia bundled for 97 chasing 200. We qualify for Super 8. Relief, finally.

But The DugOut isn't just cheering – it's real talk. The panel (looks like the usual mix of ex-players, analysts, maybe Sohail Tanvir or Mohammad Yousuf types from their earlier episodes) dives deep into what worked, what still sucks, and where we go from here. Here's my take on the key bits they're discussing – straight from watching the stream snippets and vibes.

The Highs They’re Hyping  

- Farhan's knock: Unbeaten 100, anchored everything. Panel calling it a "statement innings" – came after his duck vs India, proved he belongs. They love how he built with Salman Agha (67-run stand), then accelerated with Shadab. One expert said something like "this is the future – fresh blood stepping up when big names struggle." Spot on.  

- Bowling masterclass: Usman Tariq's mystery spin wrecked Namibia's middle order. Tariq got 4, Shadab 3, Nawaz chipped in. Panel breaking down how the spinners exploited the Colombo pitch – turn, grip, variations. "Best we've bowled all tournament," one said. True – after India leaked runs, this was redemption.  

- Team resilience: After the India collapse (still hurts), they bounced back in a do-or-die. Captain Salman Agha gets praise for smart calls, like sending Nafay ahead sometimes but overall aggression.

The Lows & Lingering Worries  

- Batting order chaos: Babar Azam padded up at No. 4 but never batted (DNB again). Panel asking the same question we all are: Is the batting lineup in danger? Why sideline your premier batter in a big chase? Some say it's smart (why risk if others are firing), others call it a sign of doubt in Babar's current form. Pressure on him is real – demotions, bench vibes.  

- Over-reliance on spinners? One expert pointed out we went heavy on spin (Abrar, Usman Tariq, Shadab, Nawaz) – worked vs Namibia, but will it against stronger teams in Super 8 (England, New Zealand, etc.)? Pace options like Naseem and Shaheen were there but underused.  

- Captain-coach dynamic: Subtle nods to the earlier viral dugout clip with Salman and Hesson. Panel hinting at "passion is good, but communication needs work." No big drama, but tension exists.

Expert Predictions & Hot Takes  

They're bullish on Super 8 now – "momentum is back," "depth showing." But warnings: Fix the top-order consistency, rotate properly, don't go back to "king kar de ga" mode. One guy said Babar, Shaheen, Shadab's era might be shifting – time for new players to lead. Harsh? Maybe, but after Farhan's ton, it feels possible.

Overall, The DugOut is doing what we need – honest breakdowns, no sugarcoating. Not just "we won, yay" – but "we won, but fix this before next." Tamasha's streaming these live throughout the tournament, so if you're in Pakistan, hop on the app. Great production, real experts, fan questions popping up.

My verdict: Watch it if you want the unfiltered post-match vibe. We qualified – celebrate. But the panel's right: Super 8 will test if this is a one-off or real turnaround.

What stood out for you in The DugOut? Drop comments – did they go too easy on the batting mess or nail it?

Catch the full episode/replay on Tamasha or YouTube (search "The DugOut PAK vs NAM Tamasha").

Murtaza Moiz  

@MoizMurtaza  

CricSphere Blog

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Pakistan vs Namibia: Batting Order in Danger? Babar Azam Under Pressure? – The Real Story from Colombo

19 February 2026  

Karachi (finally chilling at home after the madness, but my timeline is still exploding with this Babar drama)

Yaar, seriously – what is going on with this Pakistan batting order?  

We just smashed Namibia by 102 runs in Colombo to scrape into the Super 8. Sahibzada Farhan drops an unbeaten century (100* off 58, pure class), Salman Agha captains like a boss, spinners (Usman Tariq 4-fer, Shadab and Nawaz combined 7) run riot – Namibia all out for 97 chasing 200. Complete performance, morale boost, qualification secured. Should be celebration time, right?

But no. The big talking point everywhere – especially on Geo News' Sports Floor segment titled "Pakistan vs Namibia: Batting Order in Danger? - Babar Azam Under Pressure?" – is that Babar Azam didn't even get to bat. Padded up at No. 4, watched the whole innings from the dugout as Pakistan posted 199/3. Not out, did not bat (DNB). In a must-win game where we needed quick runs and NRR boost, the so-called "king" sat on the bench.

Let's call it what it is: this is a massive red flag. And it's not just one match – it's the symptom of everything wrong with how we're handling Babar and the batting lineup.

The Demotion Drama Continues  

Babar started the tournament at No. 3 (his "natural" spot post-comeback), got demoted to No. 4 before this game amid whispers of benching him entirely (reports said PCB was considering dropping him and Shaheen for Namibia to "test bench strength"). Then in the innings itself, when wickets didn't fall early, they sent Khawaja Nafay ahead of him in the middle overs. Agha apparently made the call mid-innings – Nafay walked out instead. Babar stayed padded, never got a chance.

Why? Team posted a huge total without him. Farhan and openers fired, middle order accelerated. So technically "smart cricket" – why risk your big name if the job's getting done? But come on. In T20 World Cup, against a weak Namibia side on a good batting pitch, not giving your premier batter even 10-15 balls to find form? That's not strategy – that's avoidance.

Babar Under Real Pressure – And It's Self-Inflicted  

Geo News and experts are asking: Is the batting order in danger? Is Babar under pressure? Yes – but not the way they frame it. The pressure isn't just on Babar to perform; it's on the management to stop treating him like a fragile brand asset.

- His confidence is shot after the India flop (those clueless shots, low strike rate in recent T20WCs).  

- He's been shuffled around: opener, No. 3, No. 4, now watching from sidelines.  

- The "king kar de ga" narrative we keep ranting about is crumbling – when the team succeeds without him, it exposes how much we've over-relied on him.  

- And PCB/marketers still want his face for visibility, but the coach/captain clearly don't trust him in crunch moments anymore.

This isn't about benching Babar permanently – that's knee-jerk. But sidelining him mid-innings in a high-stakes game? It screams doubt. If he's not trusted to accelerate or anchor when needed, what's his role? Token senior player? Sponsor magnet?

The Bigger Mess in the Batting Order  

This Namibia game highlights the real danger: no fixed batting order, no clear roles.  

- Farhan opens and smashes – great, keep him there.  

- Salman Agha at 3 as captain – working.  

- But then juggling Usman Khan, Nafay, Shadab – and Babar left hanging.  

No consistency means no rhythm. We win big one day (without Babar batting), lose big the next (with him failing). Until we settle a proper lineup based on form, not fame or fear of backlash, we'll keep yo-yoing.

My Take – Harsh but Honest  

Babar is still world-class when in form – but right now, he's struggling, and the team is adapting around it. That's progress in a way (team-first finally?). But the way it's happening – demotions, mid-innings overrides, public speculation – is killing confidence and creating drama.

PCB, Salman Agha, Hesson: sort this out before Super 8. Define roles clearly. If Babar needs time at nets or a mental reset, give it. But stop the half-measures that make him look like a liability. And fans/media: stop crowning "kings" – celebrate the team win, not question why one guy didn't bat.

We qualified – massive. But if batting order chaos continues, Super 8 will expose us again.

What do you think? Should Babar be restored to No. 3? Or is it time for fresh faces to lead? Drop comments below – let's debate without the usual hype.

(Clip from Geo News Sports Floor is viral – search "Babar Azam under pressure Geo News" on YouTube for the full discussion.)

Murtaza Moiz  

@MoizMurtaza  

CricSphere Blog

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Fresh Takes from the T20 World Cup: Sahibzada's Ton Interview & Shoaib Akhtar's Latest Spin on the India Loss

Shoaib Akhtar communicated Pakistan's 
perspectives on Indian screens

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19 February 2026  

Karachi (still glued to my phone – these videos are everywhere)

Yaar, what a rollercoaster this T20 World Cup has been for us. One day we're getting hammered by India (61 runs – still stings), next day we bounce back like nothing happened against Namibia. 102-run win, Super 8 secured, and suddenly the mood flips. Two videos popping up non-stop on my feed right now: Sahibzada Farhan's post-century interview after his maiden T20I ton, and Shoaib Akhtar shifting gears on the India defeat, saying "losing the match is not losing the war" and dialing back on the Indian media bashing.

Let's unpack these properly – no hype, just straight talk from what I've seen and heard.

Sahibzada Farhan's Interview After the Century 🔥  

First off – massive respect to Farhan. The guy's been in and out, got a duck against India, and then bam – unbeaten 100 off 58 balls against Namibia. 11 fours, 4 sixes, anchored the innings to 199/3, and we bowled them out for 97. Player of the Match, history maker (second Pakistani after Ahmed Shehzad to ton in T20WC), and he looked calm as hell in the interview.

From what I caught in those clips (YouTube shorts, ICC reels, post-match stuff), Farhan was humble, focused. He talked about settling in on a tricky Colombo pitch, building partnerships (that 67 with Salman Agha, then 81 with Shadab), and how the team needed this big performance to qualify. No big boasts, just "we knew it was do-or-die, focused on execution." He praised the spinners (Usman Tariq's mystery stuff and Shadab's 3-fer were gold), and said the pressure from the India loss actually helped – "we came back stronger."

It's refreshing to hear a young guy like him talk team-first. No "me me me" – pure gratitude and next-game mindset. After all our rants about over-relying on big names, seeing Farhan step up like this gives hope. If he keeps this form in Super 8, we might actually have depth. Loved how he said the hundred felt special because it came when the team needed it most. Proper warrior vibe.

Shoaib Akhtar: "Losing the Match Is Not Losing the War" – And Backing Off Indian Media Talk  

Then there's Rawalpindi Express himself. After the India loss, he was on fire – calling out PCB, Mohsin Naqvi ("incompetent, illiterate" vibes), blasting the team for being "social media influencers" not cricketers, saying we can't even dream of beating India anymore. Harsh, but a lot of it rang true.

Now, in these latest clips (YouTube interviews, probably ARY or something), he's changing tune a bit. "We lost a cricket match to India, but it's not losing the war." He stops hammering Indian media as much, focuses more on "cricket is cricket, move on." One title says he "stops talking about Indian media," and yeah – less of the godi media rants, more philosophical like "one match doesn't define everything."

Is this a genuine shift? Or damage control after his own backlash? Look, Shoaib bhai is Shoaib bhai – speaks from the heart one minute, U-turns the next (remember the Mohsin Naqvi flip-flop?). But credit where due: this message is needed. We can't let one loss (even a humiliating one) kill morale. We bounced back against Namibia – that's the war part. Focus on Super 8 now, not endless India debates.

Still, his earlier points stand: investment in talent, better infrastructure, stop treating players like influencers. If he's now saying "move forward," good – but PCB better listen to the core issues he raised before.

Wrapping It Up  

These two videos sum up the Pakistan story right now: massive individual brilliance from emerging talent like Farhan giving us hope, and the old guard (Shoaib) reminding us not to over-dramatize one defeat while still pushing for real change. We qualified, we won big – celebrate that. But don't forget the rot we talked about: marketing over talent, no proper rotation. Farhan's ton is a step in the right direction.

What do you guys think? Is Farhan the future? And is Shoaib right about "not losing the war"? Drop your takes in comments – let's keep the discussion real.

Watch the clips yourself:  

- Sahibzada's interview/highlights on ICC YouTube or reels.  

- Shoaib's latest on various channels (search "Shoaib Akhtar losing match not war").

Stay tuned – Super 8 starts soon. Let's hope the momentum holds.

Murtaza Moiz  

@MoizMurtaza  

CricSphere Blog

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EXCLUSIVE: What Really Went Down in the Dressing Room? The Truth Behind That Viral Agha-Salman vs Mike Hesson Clip

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As per confirmation from Official Dugout, 
it was frustration from Agha Salman, nothing
to do with Mike Hesson 

18 February 2026  

Karachi (back home now, but my phone's blowing up with notifications – can't escape this drama even here)

Guys… yaar, what the hell is going on with this Pakistan team?  

Just when I thought things couldn't get more chaotic after the India thrashing (61 runs – still hurts), boom – a viral clip drops from today's must-win against Namibia. Captain Salman Ali Agha and head coach Mike Hesson in the dugout, faces red, words flying, and Salman straight-up throwing a water bottle in frustration. Babar Azam sitting there looking completely lost, like "what am I even watching?"  

The clip's everywhere – X, Instagram, YouTube shorts titled "Dressing Room Fight!", "Captain vs Coach Clash!", "Trouble in Pakistan Camp?" – you name it. People are losing their minds, saying the team's falling apart, internal fights, maybe Salman quitting captaincy, or Hesson getting sacked.  

But let's slow down and unfold this properly. No hype, no clickbait – just what actually happened based on the footage and reports coming in.

The Moment It Happened

It was during the chase against Namibia at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. Pakistan needed a big win to boost NRR and secure Super 8. Salman was batting well – quick 38 off 23, part of a 67-run stand with Sahibzada Farhan. Then he got out against the run of play. Walks back to the dugout, helmet off, and boom – straight into this animated chat with Hesson.  

Cameras catch it: Salman looking upset, gesturing wildly, explaining something (probably his dismissal or tactics). Hesson talking back, maybe trying to calm him or giving feedback. Salman not having it – throws the water bottle down hard. Hesson looks stunned, like "whoa, easy there." And poor Babar? Just sitting there, blank face, staring at the drama unfolding right in front of him. Classic awkward ex-captain moment.

What Was It Really About?  

No one's confirmed the exact words (cameras don't have audio like that), but from lip-reading guesses and insider whispers:  

- Salman was frustrated with his own dismissal – felt he got out cheaply when momentum was building.  

- Hesson might have been saying "calm down, focus on the next guy" or pointing out a technical mistake in the shot.  

- Or it could be deeper – tactical disagreement on how the innings was going, field placements, or even rotation stuff we've been ranting about.  

Reports say Hesson was mostly talking, Salman reacting angrily. Not a full-blown fight, but clear tension. Salman threw the bottle in pure frustration, not at anyone – just vented. Hesson looked taken aback but didn't escalate.

The Bigger Picture – Is This a Sign of Deeper Problems?  

Look, this isn't the first time we've seen cracks. After the India loss, Hesson himself said the dressing room was "hurting" – players devastated, morale low. Now this clip drops right after we scraped qualification (big win over Namibia, thankfully 102 runs or whatever the margin was).  

But honestly? This kind of heat in the dugout happens in high-pressure games. Captain gets out, emotions high, coach tries to guide – sparks fly. Doesn't mean the team's imploding. It means they're passionate, frustrated, and care.  

That said… it does highlight the pressure cooker we're in. Salman as new captain, Babar demoted but still key, Hesson the foreign coach pushing changes – mix that with our ongoing issues (marketing over talent, no rotation, "king" narrative) and yeah, tempers will flare.  

Babar looking clueless? Symbolic maybe. The ex-skipper watching the new setup struggle – awkward for everyone.

My Take  

Stop jumping to "team in crisis" conclusions. This viral clip is dramatic, sure, but it's one moment. Pakistan won the game, qualified – focus on that. Use this energy to fix real problems: better communication between coach and captain, more depth, less reliance on one or two guys.  

If this clip wakes up the management to sort internal vibes, good. If it becomes more drama fuel, bad.  

What do you think happened? Was Salman right to vent? Or overreaction? Drop comments below – let's discuss without the hysteria.

Link to the viral clip discussions (search "Salman Agha Mike Hesson dugout" on YouTube – plenty there).  

Stay real, Pakistan cricket needs honest talk right now.

Murtaza Moiz  

@MoizMurtaza  

CricSphere Blog

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