“They are on the Moon, We are on Earth”: Kamran Akmal Torches Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign After Humiliating Exit

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal gave an aggressive assessment of Pakistan’s failed T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. He argues that the team’s outdated approach left them lagging behind the modern demands of the format.

Pakistan entered the tournament with confidence after a 3-0 sweep of Australia. A narrow escape against the Netherlands exposed early cracks, and heavy defeats in high-pressure fixtures ultimately ended their semi-final hopes.

Kamran Akmal did not mince words while comparing Pakistan to the leading sides in world cricket. “Other teams have evolved to the demands of Twenty20 cricket, but neither our team nor our players meet those standards,” Akmal said. “It is like other teams are playing on the moon and we are on Earth. We only beat smaller teams but lose to top teams.”

Criticism extended beyond individual performances. Questions were raised over Captain Salman Ali Agha and his tactical calls, particularly in crunch matches. 

Former cricketer Basit Ali summed up the frustration: “How on earth did you bowl at a venue which was suited to batting first? After India scored 175, our batters failed to handle the pressure of a chase.”

Akmal also pointed fingers at team management, criticizing selection policies and what he described as an overreliance on “bit-and-pieces all-rounders.” 

He questioned the continued backing of senior players whose strike rates failed to match the tempo required in modern T20 cricket.

Even a 200-plus total in the final Super 8 group fixture could not salvage Pakistan’s net run rate, sealing an early exit.

For Kamran Akmal, the lesson is clear: unless Pakistan modernizes its strategy and execution, they risk falling further behind in global T20 competition.