Pakistan’s Narrow Escape vs Netherlands: Ex‑Players Slam Batting “Chanafali” Show
Pakistan started their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a win, but the performance has sparked heavy criticism from former cricketers. A tense three‑wicket victory over the Netherlands in Colombo has raised serious questions about Pakistan’s batting, especially the middle order.
Tense Finish Against Netherlands
Pakistan were expected to beat the Netherlands comfortably in their Group A opener. Instead, the team almost slipped to a shock defeat and had to fight hard to cross the line. When Shaheen Shah Afridi walked in to bat, it showed how badly the earlier batters had struggled.
Basit Ali’s Viral “Chanafali” Comment
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali did not hold back after the match. In a TV show, he asked in frustration, “Baaki batsman chanafali bech rahe the kya?” – suggesting the other batters looked like they were busy selling peanuts instead of playing for the team. His sharp remark quickly went viral on social media and turned into a talking point among fans.
“Heroes Became Zeroes” for Pakistan
Basit Ali also targeted senior players by name. He said that experienced batters like Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan did not rise to the occasion in a crucial World Cup match. According to him, these players “did not become heroes for Pakistan, they ended up being zeroes” with the way they batted.
Kamran Akmal Also Unhappy With Batting
Basit Ali was not the only former cricketer to voice his anger. Wicketkeeper‑batter Kamran Akmal also criticised Pakistan’s batting approach against the Netherlands. He questioned the shot selection and game awareness shown by the middle order in a chase that should have been straightforward.
Middle Order Under the Spotlight
Pakistan’s top order failed to give a solid platform, but it was the middle order that drew the most fire. At one stage, Pakistan looked in control, but a cluster of poor shots brought the Netherlands back into the game. Former players believe that this kind of collapse is not acceptable at World Cup level against an associate side.
“Pakistan Just Survived”
Basit Ali summed up the match by saying, “Pakistan bach gaya bhai” – Pakistan just survived. His view was that the team escaped defeat more because of individual moments and the weakness of the opposition, rather than a strong all‑round performance. For many fans, this line captured the relief and disappointment they felt at the same time.
Concerns Ahead of Bigger Matches
The narrow escape against the Netherlands has set off alarm bells before tougher games in the tournament. If Pakistan’s batters repeat the same mistakes against stronger teams, a close win could turn into a heavy defeat. Former players are urging the side to fix their intent, shot selection and temperament quickly.
What Pakistan Need to Fix
Experts believe Pakistan need to work on a few key areas after this shaky start.
- Better partnerships in the top and middle order
- Smarter chasing strategy, especially in low‑to‑medium targets
- Clear roles for finishers so that tailenders like Shaheen are not left to rescue games regularly
If these issues are not addressed, the same problems could hurt them later in the World Cup.
Fans Divided After the Win
The result has left Pakistan fans split. Some are happy that the team at least opened the tournament with a win, while others feel the performance was not worthy of a World Cup contender. On social media, many agreed with Basit Ali’s harsh tone, while others felt the criticism could have been more balanced.
A Wake‑Up Call for Pakistan
This first match has turned into an early wake‑up call rather than a confident statement. Pakistan have two points on the table, but their batting has come under a harsh spotlight from ex‑players and fans alike. If the team learns from this scare and improves quickly, the narrow win over the Netherlands might still become a turning point in their World Cup journey.
T20 World Cup 2026: Pressure On Pakistan
As this is the T20 World Cup 2026, expectations from Pakistan are naturally very high. Fans know that in a big event like the T20 World Cup 2026, even small mistakes can cost a team its place in the next round. That is why this narrow escape against the Netherlands is already being seen as an early warning sign for the rest of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
