Sikandar Bakht slams Saqlain Mushtaq (Source: @saad556/x.com)
In the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan is already dealing with their own heartbreaks. Following their disastrous campaign, several veteran stars are still backing the players, while former cricketer Sikandar Bakht also took a sharp dig at them.
Players like Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi are close relatives of Pakistani legends like Shahid Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq, who often back them despite endless struggle. Speaking on a TV show, Bakht gave them a stern warning regarding that.
Sikandar Bakht blasts former stars for shielding underperformers
Over the years, Pakistan’s struggles in the ICC events have not been new, but with time, it has only grown bigger. Before stepping into the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 is witnessing the same thing, the Men in Green are standing on a cliff to be knocked out of the semifinal race.
When the world criticizes the star players when they struggle, some of the former stars who are also close relatives of some current players defend them. One such example is Saqlain Mushtaq, who has frequently backed his son-in-law, Shadab Khan, and the same scenario unfolded once again just a few days ago.
As Shadab Khan continues to endure a prolonged lean patch, the all-rounder has struggled to make a meaningful impact for quite some time. Despite that, as the Pakistani veteran has taken Shadab’s side, former Pakistani player Sikandar Bakht took a sharp dig at him.
Also Read: Revealed: How India And Pakistan Can Still Face Each Other In T20 World Cup Semi-Finals
Speaking on a tv show, the veteran star Sikandar Bakht warned the former stars to stay away from defending their close relatives who are representing the nation on the global stage. Without directly naming Saqlain Mushtaq, he took a subtle dig, calling the situation shameful and advising them to remain neutral instead.
“I would request and appeal to all former cricketers to seriously think about this: if any of your relatives, very close relatives, are playing, then please do not comment. When you speak, it becomes very obvious. I think you understand what I mean,” he said.
“My point is that you should feel ashamed of yourselves. You should not do this. If your son-in-law, your son, your nephew is playing there and you are defending him blindly, it feels very bad,” he added.
Shadab Khan’s all-around struggles raise big questions
Ever since lifting their last ICC trophy, fans have been left wondering when the glory days will truly return, as heartbreak on the big stage has become an all too familiar story. The T20 World Cup 2026 is seeing the same thing as the Men in Green are now struggling to keep their semifinal hope alive.
Even though Pakistan started their journey with a victory, Shadab Khan’s struggle has become a part of their run. After being wicketless in the first match against the Netherlands, he scored only eight runs while chasing down the total.
When Pakistan needed him to step up and lead from the front, he struggled, managing just 111 runs in six matches with a highest score of only 36. Even with the ball, he remained ineffective as he secured only five wickets with an economy rate of 7.40. In the crucial times, he failed to bounce back when the team needed him the most.
Pakistan hang by a thread as semifinal dreams fade
Despite starting the T20 World Cup 2026 with two consecutive defeats, Pakistan faced their first heartbreak after facing a tough defeat against India. Although they attempted a comeback in the following match, another setback followed as their first Super Eight clash was abandoned.
Facing England in the second match, the Men in Green faced another heartbreak as England defeated them 2 wickets. That defeat cost them big as they are now standing on the brink of elimination. Along with their must-win game against Sri Lanka, they also have to look out for the New Zealand vs England clash to keep their semifinal hope alive.
Also Read: Pakistan Playing XI Vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8- Fakhar Zaman Replaced?
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