Salman Ali Agha takes responsibility after T20 World Cup exit, admits “we underperformed under pressure”

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign ended in disappointment, and captain Salman Ali Agha has openly admitted that the team fell short when it mattered most.

Speaking after Pakistan’s exit from the tournament, Salman acknowledged that the side underperformed overall and struggled with execution in crucial moments — particularly under pressure.

“If I have to sum up the tournament, I think we underperformed,” Salman said. “Our last three overs execution was not good. We are a better bowling unit and have done better in the past. Our execution was missing.”

Pressure and Decision-Making Cost Pakistan

Pakistan’s failure to qualify for the semi-finals marks the fourth consecutive ICC event in which the team has fallen short. Salman pointed to poor decision-making in high-pressure situations as a key factor behind the repeated exits.

“When the pressure increases, we have to improve our decision-making. In ICC events like the World Cup, there is always pressure. If your decision-making is not good under pressure, the result will be like this,” he explained.

He admitted that the team had a clear plan going into their final match, knowing they needed to restrict the opposition to a specific target to stay alive in the tournament.

“We knew we had to get them out before 65 runs and then chase in 13 overs. We made the team according to the situation. We scored 200 and believed we could defend 148,” he added, while also crediting Sri Lanka’s batters for handling the pressure well.

Captain Accepts Responsibility

When asked about accountability, Salman did not shy away.

“We will definitely take responsibility. We were involved in selecting the team. I will take responsibility and I am sure the coach will also,” he stated.

He emphasized that team selection decisions were made collectively between the captain and coaching staff, based on conditions and match requirements rather than individual preferences.

On Babar’s Role and Fakhar’s Return

Addressing the debate surrounding Babar Azam, Salman clarified that the former captain had a clearly defined role in the tournament.

“Babar had a different role. He was number four. We needed a batsman in the middle order who could provide stability and save us from collapse. When you come to a World Cup, you have to define roles,” he said.

Salman also spoke about the decision to promote Fakhar Zaman to open in a crucial match.

“We felt Fakhar should utilise the powerplay. He did outstanding batting. Right now, we can say he should have played the first four matches because he did well. But before that, his form wasn’t that good,” Salman noted.

Backing Young Talent

Despite the early exit, Salman expressed confidence in emerging players, including Khawaja Nafay, Hassan Nawaz and Abdul Samad, calling them long-term investments for Pakistan cricket.

“I think Khawaja Nafay is a batsman who can serve Pakistan for a long time. He is a product that can be invested in. The others are also part of the future. You will definitely see them in the T20 team,” he said.

Looking Ahead

While emotions remain raw after another ICC disappointment, Salman urged calm reflection rather than emotional decisions.

“Any decision right now will be emotional. We will go back, take some time, and reflect,” he concluded.

Pakistan’s exit has once again sparked debate over consistency, leadership, and execution under pressure. For Salman Ali Agha and his team, the focus now shifts to regrouping, reassessing strategies, and ensuring that lessons from this campaign translate into stronger performances in future tournaments.