Aleem Dar stepped down from the selection committee of Pakistan’s men’s team following the side’s Super 8 exit from the T20 World Cup 2026. Dar was appointed to the role on October 11, 2024, alongside former Pakistan cricketers Auqib Javed and Azhar Ali, alongside analyst Hasan Cheema.
According to a report in Geo News, Dar felt that head coach Mike Hesson had more influence in decision-making and believed that discussions within the committee lacked balanced debate.
As per reports, Dar was not in favour of having Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. He rather wanted to have wicket-keeper batter and former captain Mohammad Rizwan in the side and have him to bat at number 6.
Pakistan’s Performance in T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan made it to the Super 8 after winning three of their four matches in the Group stage. The Salman Ali Agha-led side lost to India in the group stage while their win against Netherlands wasn’t a convincing one. Pakistan bundled out Netherlands for 147 but struggled with the bat during the chase. The Men in Green needed 29 in the final two overs when Faheem Ashraf took the onus and took the team over the line.
He smashed an unbeaten 29 off 11 to see the side home.
Pakistan in Super 8s
Pakistan’s first match against New Zealand was washed out due to rain while they lost to England. With one point under their belt, the side needed to defeat Sri Lanka with a massive margin to march ahead on the basis of better NRR as New Zealand were sitting at number two spot with three points.
Riding on a hundred from Sahibzada Farhan and a brilliant knock of 84 from Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan posted 212/8 in 20 overs. Pakistan then required to restrict the Lankan Lions at 147. The bowlers began the proceedings well and reduced to Sri Lanka to 94/4 before Dasun Shanaka took the onus on himself and hammered an unbeaten 76 off 31. The right-handed batter took Sri Lanka go past the 147-run mark denying Pakistan a semi-final berth and then played a brisk knock to take the game close.
Sri Lanka needed 28 off the last over when Shanaka took on Shaheen Afridi and hammered 22 in the firs four balls before Shaheen came back and bowled to dot balls to help the side win by 5 runs.
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