"Darkest period in our cricketing history” - Mohammad Yousuf calls for removal of political influence in Pakistan cricket

Former Pakistani batter Mohammad Yousuf has called Pakistan’s loss to India in the recent T20 World Cup 2026 game, the “darkest period in its cricketing history” after the Green Shirts were thrashed by the Men in Blue by 61 runs in Colombo on February 15.

India posted 175/7 after being asked to bat first, thanks to 77 by Ishan Kishan. In response, Pakistan batters collapsed under pressure and were bowled out for 114 runs, and lost the game by 61 runs in a one-sided contest.

Mohammad Yousuf has blamed the team's demise on "political influence and personal agendas" within Pakistan's cricket hierarchy, describing it as the darkest period in the country's cricket history.

He added that Pakistan cricket can not restore its former strength unless political involvement and personal agendas are abolished.

"Unless we remove political influence and personal agendas from Pakistan cricket, we cannot return to the team we once were. This is the darkest period in our cricketing history, and my heart bleeds for it. Incompetent individuals must be removed from office and from the team,” Yousuf posted on X.

https://twitter.com/yousaf1788/status/2023286637615276453

With their Net Run Rate falling below that of the United States of America, Pakistan faces the risk of missing out on the Super 8 stage of the current World Cup. Therefore, a defeat to Namibia will finish the campaign for the team captained by Salman Ali Agha.

“Ishan Kishan took the game away from us”- Pakistan coach Mike Hesson

Mike Hesson, the head coach of Pakistan, acknowledged that his team did not adjust to the conditions of the competition during their intense contest against India. Hesson reflected on the encounter during the post-match news conference, saying that India capitalized well on a surface that provided spinners with a lot of early assistance.

"With the ball, obviously it was spinning quite a lot initially, and I think the way Ishan Kishan played took the game away from us. To be fair to India, they probably got about 25 above par on that surface. In terms of adjusting to conditions, we didn't really give ourselves a chance,” Hesson said as per ANI.

Hesson has refuted claims that choosing to ball first was a defensive tactic, stating that the choice was made solely on the basis of pitch evaluation and not out of prudence.

"Yeah, I mean, I've answered it. Both sides were going to bowl first because the pitch was soft and the ball spun twice as much in the first innings as in the second. There was talk before about the Australia game, which was a day game; this is a night game. So, as I said, nothing to do with the toss, it was just execution." Hesson said.

India continues to lead Group A with three wins in three matches, while Pakistan has dropped to third position with two wins and a loss, and the United States is currently second with two wins and two defeats.

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