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NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s constrictive nonaccomplishment to England successful the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup triggered an disfigured backlash online, with respective fans targeting skipper Salman Ali Agha’s household with abusive and threatening messages.Salman’s wife, Sabe, responded connected Instagram, saying that directing threats astatine her oregon their kid would not assistance Pakistan triumph the tournament. Despite the team’s two-wicket decision successful Pallekele connected Tuesday, galore supporters besides condemned the toxic reactions, urging restraint and accountability connected societal media.
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka bow retired of the tournament; Pakistan’s hopes dim
Former Pakistan skipper Moin Khan said specified behaviour was unacceptable and called for enactment from the cybercrime authorities.
He recalled facing akin hostility aft Pakistan’s decision successful the 1999 World Cup final.Emotional reactions from sections of Pakistan’s instrumentality basal during ICC events are not new. Following the team’s quarterfinal exit against India successful the 1996 World Cup, aggravated protesters vandalised the homes of definite players, including then-captain Wasim Akram.On the field, England became the archetypal squad to corroborate a semi-final berth astatine the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with their triumph implicit Pakistan.
The defeat, coupled with Pakistan’s earlier washout against New Zealand, has near their qualification hopes hanging successful the balance. With England already through, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are warring for the remaining semi-final spot.England had begun their Super 8 signifier with a 51-run triumph implicit Sri Lanka successful Kandy earlier edging retired Pakistan astatine the aforesaid venue. Captain Harry Brook led from the front, smashing his maiden T20I period and becoming the archetypal skipper to people a 100 successful T20 World Cup history.
Chasing 166, England were successful aboriginal occupation astatine 58/4 successful the eighth over. Brook, promoted to No. 3, rebuilt the innings with a 45-run basal alongside Sam Curran, followed by a important 52-run concern with Will Jacks that shifted the momentum. He reached his 100 successful benignant — clearing the ropes implicit screen earlier punching a bound done mid-off.Although Brook fell with England connected 155/6 and triumph wrong sight, a little wobble saw 3 wickets tumble for conscionable six runs, adding precocious tension.
Needing 3 runs successful the last implicit with 2 wickets successful hand, Jofra Archer sealed the contention with a bound done mid-wicket.
T20 World Cup: What Pakistan request to suffice for semis
Pakistan’s semi-final destiny volition mostly beryllium determined by the effect of Friday’s England vs New Zealand clash successful Colombo. A New Zealand triumph would instrumentality them to 5 points and seal qualification, making Pakistan’s last Super Eights crippled against Sri Lanka inconsequential.However, if England prevail, they volition apical the radical with six points.
That would permission New Zealand connected three, giving Pakistan a lifeline — provided they decision Sri Lanka successful Kandy. In that case, some Pakistan and New Zealand would decorativeness connected 3 points, pushing the contention into a nett tally complaint shootout. The numbers, though, suggest Pakistan look a steep challenge.To illustrate, if England bushed New Zealand by 50 runs, Pakistan — assuming a first-innings full of astir 170 — would request to triumph by astir 20 runs to determination up connected nett tally rate. The equation becomes adjacent tighter if Pakistan are chasing. They would apt person to overhaul the people successful astir 17.5 overs to leapfrog New Zealand. Anything slower could spot the Blackcaps clasp the advantage.England’s beardown tally successful the Super Eights has streamlined the table, and with Sri Lanka retired of contention, the last semi-final spot is acceptable for a melodramatic conclusion. For Pakistan, it is nary longer conscionable astir winning — it is astir winning big, and relying connected England to tilt the scales successful their favour.
