New Delhi: In a heartbreaking twist at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan crashed out of the tournament despite a thrilling five-run victory over Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight match.
The Men in Green finished level on points with New Zealand but were edged out on net run rate (NRR), marking their second consecutive semi-final miss after 2022.
Pakistan, led by Salman Agha, posted a formidable 212/8 at the Pallekele International Stadium, powered by a record-breaking 176-run opening stand – Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive century (100) and Fakhar Zaman’s 84. However, they needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or fewer to overhaul New Zealand’s superior NRR.
Sri Lanka fought back valiantly, reaching 207/6, with captain Dasun Shanaka smashing an unbeaten 76 off 31 balls (including eight sixes). The narrow win gave Pakistan three points from three Super Eight matches (one win, one loss, one no-result), matching New Zealand’s tally.
Yet, New Zealand’s NRR stood at +1.390, while Pakistan’s improved but remained at -0.123. The Black Caps, who had earlier thrashed Sri Lanka by 61 runs (boosting their NRR significantly) and shared a washout with Pakistan, advanced alongside group toppers England.
The result highlighted the brutal role of NRR in tie-breakers under ICC rules: when points are equal, net run rate determines qualification. Pakistan’s campaign ends here, leaving fans rueing what might have been with a more dominant bowling display.