Salman Ali Agha Shaheen Afridi Babar Azam Mohammad Rizwan for Pakistan. Image Credits: X
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has shared an inspiring message for the Pakistan cricket team amidst their dwindling campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026. Ahmed’s message occurred a couple of days after Pakistan suffered a demoralizing defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Team India in Colombo.
With Pakistan facing Namibia in a must-win match at the SSC Ground in Colombo on February 18, Sarfaraz Ahmed urged the ‘Men in Green’ to stay united and give their “100 percent” on the ground.
Sarfaraz Ahmed asks Salman Agha and co. to “enjoy the game”
Former Pakistan captain and current Under-19 mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed has asked the ‘Men in Green’ to forget their Team India drubbing in a bid to focus on the upcoming matches of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Emphasizing the need of unity among players, the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning skipper asked the Pakistan players to back each other and give their best efforts on the field.
Taking to his Instagram account on February 18, Sarfaraz Ahmed wrote, “Boys, jo ho gaya usko yahin chhor do ab sirf aage dekhna hai. Humari strength hamari unity hai. Apni abilities par bharosa rakho ek dusre ko back karo, aur ground me 100% do. Jab hum ek team ki tarah khelte hain, hame koi rok nahi sakta. Let’s go out, enjoy the game, and make Pakistan proud. All the best Team Pakistan!”
It is worth noting that Sarfaraz Ahmed was the captain of the Pakistan team when it last won an ICC event of any kind. Under his leadership, the ‘Men in Green’ ravaged a strong Team India by 180 runs in the final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England.
As of now, Ahmed is serving the junior Pakistan cricket teams as their mentor.
Pakistan rocked by a strong Team India after boycott drama
Earlier this month, the PCB and the Pakistan government decided to boycott Pakistan’s Group A match of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Team India on political grounds. However, after an extensive meeting with the ICC and upon receiving a threatening letter from SLC, the PCB decided to proceed with the match as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo.
As it turned out, the Pakistan cricket team got blown away by an Ishan Kishan blitzkrieg. With Kishan whacking 77 off just 40 balls, India mounted 175-7 in 20 overs before a star-studded Pakistan line-up got bundled out for just 114. The defeat marked Pakistan’s first loss of the tournament and they slipped to number three on the Group A points table behind India and USA.
Pakistan faces Namibia in must-win match
The defeat to India pushed the Pakistan cricket team to its brink in the opening round of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They have now gone up against Namibia in a must-win Group A match of tournament at the SSC Ground in Colombo.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and opted to bat first. His openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub got Pakistan off to a flier, racing to 40 in just the first five overs of the match.
