Pakistan Cricket Team’s Impotency Forces ICC, SLC To Take Drastic Step for PAK vs NAM

Jay Shah, Babar Azam, Mohsin Naqvi. Image Credits: X

The Pakistan National Cricket Team is currently on the receiving end of harsh criticism and scrutiny after their defeat against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. 

Now, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have taken a massive step that is no less than a major embarrassment for the Salman Agha-led side as a full member of the ICC. 

It seems that the apex governing body of cricket and the hosts, Sri Lanka, have understood the fact that they are going to get nothing in terms of benefits from the Pakistan matches, except for the one against India. 

Embarassment for Pakistan after the decision from ICC and SLC

Apart from Pakistan’s high-octane clash against India, fans were allowed free entry in the Men in Green’s first two matches against the Netherlands and the USA. ICC and SLC had to allow the free entry, considering the fact that fans might not pay to watch the Pakistan cricket team’s matches. 

In the same vein, the ICC and SLC have reached the same decision regarding the Men in Green's last group-stage fixture against Namibia. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board announced this decision officially through a social media post on Tuesday. 

“Gates 5 and 7 of the SSC Grounds, Colombo, will be kept open for the public to enter and witness the Pakistan vs. Namibia match, ‘Free-of-Charge’,” said SLC in their official Instagram post. 

“The game will be played tomorrow (18 February). The gates will open at 1:00 PM, and the match will commence at 3:00 PM,” it added later. 

Furthermore, SLC also emphasised the significance of the last group-stage fixture for Salman Agha's men. 

“Tomorrow’s match will be crucial for Pakistan as they aim to secure a place in the Super 8 stage of the competition. The public is invited to witness the excitement,” reads SLC’s official statement. 

Pakistan to face Namibia in ‘do-or-die’ clash

Speaking of Super-8 hopes for Salman Agha and Co., the game against Namibia will be the must-win game for them to advance to the tournament’s next stage. If Namibia upsets the Men in Green in their last group-stage fixture, the 2009 World T20 champions will be knocked out of this edition’s group stage. 

In the case of Pakistan’s defeat against Namibia, the United States of America (USA) will qualify for the T20 World Cup’s super-8 stage for the second consecutive time after the previous edition. 

Looking at the other possible scenarios for Pakistan’s Super 8 qualification, they will also qualify for the Super 8 round if the fixture against Namibia is washed out by rain.

SLC lauds SSC Ground's success in T20 World Cup 2026 

Sri Lanka Cricket, the hosting cricket board mentioned the success of Colombo’s Sihalese Sports Club Ground in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. 

“Tomorrow’s fixture will be the fifth World Cup match hosted at the SSC and also the final game at the venue for this tournament,” SLC said. 

“The ground has already made history during the ongoing T20 World Cup, having hosted the inaugural match of the tournament as well as its first-ever under-lights international game,” it concluded.