Pakistan‘s performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has taken a serious hit, prompting former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan to weigh in. Following Pakistan’s close loss to England, their chances of making it to the semifinals now hinge on favorable outcomes that seem unlikely. Pathan criticized segments of Pakistan’s media for adding unnecessary pressure on the players.
With only one point from their first two matches — an opener against New Zealand that was called off due to rain and a tough loss to England — Pakistan is now heavily reliant on other teams and circumstances to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
Irfan Pathan questions media coverage as Pakistan faces challenges after loss to England
He pointed out a double standard where critics who mock India during rare defeats often stay quiet when Pakistan falters. Pathan believes this creates a harmful environment for players dealing with the intense demands of a global competition.
His comments have ignited discussions among supporters from both countries, with many agreeing that harsh criticism can weigh heavily on athletes during crucial matches.
“This Pakistan team doesn’t handle pressure well. Pakistan’s struggles are partly due to their own troll media. They fail to genuinely support the team and instead put them under enormous stress. It’s all about “reach” for them. They flood Indian social media when India loses (which is rare), but vanish when their own team loses. We don’t even pay attention when they aren’t playing against us, unless we are focused on that specific game,” wrote Pathan on X.
