Pakistan v India game - ICC World T20 2026 game

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The match against India in Colombo last night has left me sleepless again. That 61-run thrashing in the T20 World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium—it's still replaying in my head like a bad loop, although I didn't directly watch, instead watched clips on CricInfo and CricBuzz, otherwise insisted on compiling my diary post instead, hence I thought I'd pour it all out here in my diary style, no fancy structure, no polished AI nonsense, just raw thoughts the way they come, straight from the gut.

We started decently with the ball. The pitch was slow, spin-friendly, and we squeezed them hard in the first half. Saim Ayub picked up 3-25, kept things tight with his spin, and overall, we restricted India to 175/7. On that surface, 176 felt chaseable, maybe even gettable if we batted sensibly. But then came the collapse.

Ishan Kishan smashed 77 off just 40 balls—10 fours, 3 sixes. He took the game away single-handedly. We had them under pressure, but one guy explodes and suddenly the target looks massive. Our bowlers did okay, but that one innings changed everything.

Then our chase... what a mess. 176 to win, and we crumbled to 114 all out in 18 overs. Top order failed again: Sahibzada Farhan out for a duck in the first over, Saim Ayub gone for 6, captain Salman Agha for 4, Babar Azam couldn't hold it together. Usman Khan fought with 44 off 34, Shaheen Afridi hung around for 23* at the end, but partnerships? Zero. Hardik Pandya (2-16), Bumrah (2-17), Varun Chakravarthy (2-17), Axar (2-29)—they bowled us out clinically. No fight, no momentum.

Lying awake, I kept asking: why does this keep happening? Heard a podcast the other day laying it bare—this is the same team that played against Zimbabwe, will play Nepal, faced Australia and New Zealand's second strings, and now gets thrown against full-strength India. Where is selection based on form? Nowhere. Same faces, same combinations. Fresh talent? New ideas? New pairings? Nobody cares.

Our management isn't running a cricket board anymore—it's turned into a marketing firm. Players aren't talents; they're products. Keep the sponsors happy, boost brand value, increase visibility. So the same bowlers, same batsmen keep getting picked. No room for youth, no bold changes. Heart wants to scream: Stop this circus! But who's listening? The people in PCB offices are too busy taking sponsor calls. What do they care about Pakistan cricket's future? Just sell the commodity, push the product.

Put the pieces together and the picture is clear: talent is being sacrificed, performance is being ignored, and all that's left is the shiny marketing glow. Last night's humiliation in Colombo feels like the latest symptom of the same old disease. India now leads 8-1 against us in T20 World Cups. And us? Same old post-match statements, same vague hope.

How long will this go on? Probably until we keep getting hammered in big tournaments one after another. Maybe until something explodes big time. Or maybe it never changes.

Where did it start? Probably the day selectors stopped being cricketers and became marketers and businessmen. Where has it led? To Colombo, to a 61-run defeat. And where is my heart now? Just sad, disappointed, and exhausted.

That's all for today. Tomorrow we'll see what happens next. Maybe something good turns up. Gotta keep some hope alive, right? Otherwise, what's left?

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Pakistan Cricket Betrayed by BCCI: From Allies to Dominance – PSL Self-Reliance & National Pride 2026

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Pakistan's Stand with India Back Then – And the Backstabbing We Face Now

I just watched that Global Sach video titled "How India Destroyed World Cricket" (the one Dr. Nasir Baig put out recently in early 2026), and man, it hit hard. The guy doesn't hold back on how the BCCI has turned the whole game into their personal playground. But from where I'm sitting in Karachi, the story feels even more personal. It's not just about money and power anymore – it's about betrayal of old friends.

Let's go back a bit. Remember how Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with India when it mattered most? In the 80s, after India's shock 1983 World Cup win, we helped bring the 1987 World Cup to the subcontinent. Without Pakistan's support, that tournament stays in England forever. Then there was Jagmohan Dalmiya's push for ICC president – Shaheryar Khan from our side backed him solidly, helped him win, and gave Asian cricket a real voice for the first time. That was proper unity, subcontinental brotherhood stuff.

But not everyone remembers gratitude, do they? Fast-forward, and the BCCI has completely turned against the PCB. No bilateral series since 2008 after Mumbai, Pakistani players banned from IPL for years, MOUs torn up like the 2014 one, and now they use every bit of their 38.5% ICC revenue share plus Jay Shah running the show to squeeze us out. The IPL blocks out 2.5 months every year – no international cricket allowed – while boards like West Indies scrape by on 4.5% of the pie. Smaller nations are dying, and Pakistan feels it the worst.

Here's the thing though – Pakistan doesn't need India to survive in cricket anymore. We're on our own route to self-sustainability, and it's picking up speed. The PSL might not be anywhere near the IPL in size or money (no one's pretending it is – IPL franchises go for hundreds of millions while new PSL ones sold for single-digit millions in the recent auction), but it's taking solid baby steps forward. Franchise fees have doubled revenue past Rs7 billion recently, international media rights deals are jumping (one cycle saw a 149% increase), HBL smashed records renewing title sponsorship with a 505% rise since PSL started, and overall PCB revenue streams show ICC money is now just about 35% – the rest coming from domestic ops, bilateral series, sponsors, and PSL itself. That's diversification, that's independence building.

And credit where it's due: the current PCB regime under Mohsin Naqvi is working aggressively on this. They're pushing real reforms – switching to a full player auction from the old draft for PSL 11 (starting March 26, 2026), bumping player salary purses to USD 1.6 million per team, adding two new franchises (Hyderabad and Sialkot), bringing Faisalabad back as a host city, guaranteeing minimum earnings for franchises at Rs850 million per season, and focusing on transparency, competitiveness, and player opportunities. It's not just talk; these are moves to modernize, grow the league's brand, and make it more attractive globally while keeping things fair at home. Even with challenges like stadium upgrades or broadcast negotiations, the direction feels positive – ambitious, structured, and aimed at long-term strength.

From Pakistan's side, we've taken enough hits. We supported them when they were building up; they repay us with this. Enough is enough.

It's high time PCB stops reacting emotionally and starts behaving with real grace, elegance, and above all, national pride. Build alliances with other boards who feel the same squeeze, focus on our own domestic cricket, push for fair reforms at ICC level, and never beg for scraps. Carry ourselves with dignity – that's how you earn respect back, not by matching their pettiness. But all these aspects should be merged with our national interests and pride, because at the end of the day, it is the Country which should matter first. Cricket is bigger than any boardroom fight or personal ego – it's about representing Pakistan with strength, self-respect, and a clear vision that puts the green shirt, the flag, and 240 million people ahead of everything else.

What do you reckon? Has India's rise come at the price of stabbing old allies in the back, or is this just how big money changes everything? Drop your thoughts below, let's talk. 🏏

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PSL Auction 2026 – Beyond Glamour, Towards Reality

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The Pakistan Super League has crossed a historic threshold. For the first time, the PSL abandoned its draft system and embraced the full spectacle of a player auction. What unfolded was not just a cricketing event—it was a mirror reflecting the priorities, the hype, and the harsh realities of modern cricket.

Expansion and New Franchises

This year’s auction introduced Hyderabad Hawks and Sialkot Smashers, expanding the league to eight teams. More franchises mean more opportunities, but also more scrutiny. Every bid carried weight, every choice revealed strategy—or lack thereof.

Big Names, Brutal Market

The auction was ruthless. Household names like Jason Roy, Usman Khawaja, Shan Masood, and Imran Tahir went unsold. It was a reminder that reputation alone doesn’t guarantee relevance. The market rewarded adaptability punished stagnation.

Meanwhile, shocks defined the night:

• Karachi Kings stunned everyone by signing David Warner, a marquee move.
• Rawalpindi Stallionz secured Naseem Shah, anchoring their pace attack.
• Adam Zampa joined Karachi, strengthening their spin arsenal.
• Tabraiz Shamsi was picked late at base price, proving patience can pay off.

Glamour vs. Dignity

The auction floor was drenched in glamour—cameras flashing, franchises flexing their purses. But beneath the glitter, the real story was about dignity. Teams that invested in youth and domestic performers showed foresight. Because glamour alone doesn’t win titles; ideas, humility, and preparation do.

Lessons for Pakistan Cricket

The PSL auction is more than entertainment—it’s a lesson for Pakistan cricket itself:

• Don’t rely on hype. Big names fade; systems endure.
• Build backups. Rotate stars, nurture youth, and prevent burnout.
• Respect domestic talent. Glamour comes and goes, but dignity is built in the grind.

Closing Thought

The PSL Auction 2026 was a carnival of money and narratives. Yet it reminded us of a simple truth: cricket is not about who gets the biggest bid—it’s about who carries the dignity to perform when the glamour fades.

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Shaheen Afridi – Time to Step Back for Dignity

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Shaheen Shah Afridi is no doubt a good bowler. His pace and swing once made him Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, the face of the attack. But over the years, hype has overtaken reality. Every single Pakistani game seems to revolve around him, yet his recent figures—like 1/42 against USA—show he is short of ideas. The Shaheen of 2021, who terrified batsmen, is not the Shaheen of 2026. Let’s admit this for reality.

The Overhype Trap

2021 Shaheen nowhere!

Shaheen has been glamorized to the point that he is expected to deliver in every match. But cricket is
not just about glamour—it is about ideas, reinvention, and humility. Domestic cricket allows bowlers to think out of the box, to experiment, to critically analyze their craft. International cricket, by contrast, is glamorized, but glamour without ideas is hollow. Shaheen has hidden behind the lights of international cricket, claiming himself as Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, but failing to build the tactical backup needed to sustain that title.

The Backup He Never Built

Had Shaheen nurtured a backup, Pakistan could rotate him, protect him, and allow him to rediscover the
spark of 2021. Instead, the Shaheen of 2026 is a shadow of his former self. He has carried the burden alone, and now the cracks are showing.

This is where reality bites: not every game is worthy of his presence. He must learn to relax, step aside, and let younger bowlers take the stage. Cricket is not about being the center of attention all the time—it is about building a system where talent is shared, nurtured, and rotated. Sometimes, the most dignified role is to watch as a spectator, not to demand the spotlight.

The Need for Grounding

There have even been whispers—tweets and reports—that some teammates have complained about Shaheen’s arrogance. If this is true, then it is a serious concern. A premier bowler must not only lead with skill but also with humility. Arrogance isolates; humility inspires. If Shaheen wants to reclaim his place, he must ground himself, respect his teammates, and accept that leadership is about sharing responsibility, not monopolizing it.

Why This Matters for Pakistan

Pakistan cannot afford to rely on hype alone. Dignity in cricket comes from preparation, humility, and systems that allow players to grow. Money and glamour may privilege a good place, but dignity is worth more than money alone. For Shaheen, dignity now means stepping back, allowing others to shine, and returning stronger when the time is right.

Closing Thought

Shaheen Afridi remains talented, but talent without reinvention is wasted. The Shaheen of 2021 inspired fear. The Shaheen of 2026 inspires questions. Pakistan must stop hiding behind hype and start building dignity through domestic cricket, backup systems, and honest reflection. For Shaheen, the path forward is clear: rest, humility, and rediscovery. Only then can he reclaim his place—not as a marketed star, but as a true fast‑bowling leader.

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