Colombo, Feb 16 – Former spin bowler Danish Kaneria launched a scathing critique of Pakistan following their underwhelming performance against India in the T20 World Cup match, stating that the result exposed the team's struggles while chasing targets and suggesting that the players focus more on their cricket than on off-field statements.
India's clinical performance with the bat and ball saw them outclass Pakistan, securing their Super 8 qualification with a 61-run victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
"Pakistan played very disappointing cricket. They should focus on their performance on the field rather than making statements," Kaneria told IANS. He added that Usman Tariq's claim that he would single-handedly lead Pakistan to victory was unrealistic. In contrast, he praised the Indian players for their focus on their performance.
India posted 175/7, the highest score in a match between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in Colombo, thanks to a blistering start by Ishan Kishan. Pakistan's top four spinners then bowled brilliantly, restricting Pakistan to only 15 runs and ultimately winning by two overs.
"Pakistan knew that the target was difficult to chase. Did they really believe their bowling attack was strong enough to dismiss such a deep Indian batting lineup for around 100 runs? There seemed to be no strategy at all; it looked like a complete lack of game plan," Kaneria said.
Pandya, who started the proceedings for India with the ball, dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for a duck in his first over. Jasprit Bumrah also got Saim Ayub and Salman Agha. Axar Patel then dismissed Babar Azam, bringing India's total to four wickets.
"Babar Azam should have guided the team during difficult moments, the way MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have done for India. There was no visible game plan, and the team management should have sent a clear message to stabilize the innings after early wickets that the batters needed to hold on for at least 10–12 overs," Kaneria said.
Usman Khan led the recovery for Pakistan, scoring 44 off 34 deliveries, despite wickets continuing to fall at the other end. However, Axar Patel dismissed Usman in the end, and Ishan Kishan completed the stumping, leading to a quick collapse of Pakistan's batting.
"Usman batted well and showed some attitude, but he could not do everything alone when the entire team was underperforming. Excessive talk only distracts from the game. If the team cannot play better cricket, the least they can do is avoid unnecessary statements, because performances like these disappoint the fans," Kaneria noted.
Asked about Babar and Shaheen Afridi's recent form and what the team management should do after the defeat, Kaneria replied, "When you play for the national team, performance is what ultimately matters. Pakistan’s biggest problem right now is the lack of reliable backup options. There is a lot of noise in the media about dropping Babar, but if he is removed and the replacement fails to perform, the team will likely end up bringing him back again, which only reflects instability in selection."
Kaneria also noted that Shaheen has not looked at his best in recent times, with his rhythm and effectiveness appearing to dip, and there are talents in the Under-19 ranks; those bowlers need proper grooming and a structured pathway to the senior team.
"After Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan does not seem to have a consistent left-arm pace option at the highest level. There are promising bowlers in the Under-19 setup, but they need proper grooming and a clear pathway into the senior side. Shaheen himself has not been at his best for some time; his rhythm and effectiveness appear to be missing," said Kaneria.
"Selection decisions have also raised questions. Players like Fakhar Zaman, who have delivered in big matches against India, deserve clarity and consistent backing. Similarly, Usman Tariq was introduced into the bowling attack too late; he could have been used earlier, especially when Ishan Kishan was building momentum," he further said.
Kaneria further said India’s batting depth continues to outclass Pakistan’s fragile lower order, adding that the hype around the contest was driven more by off-field controversy than on-field quality.
"India’s strength lies in its deep batting lineup, whereas Pakistan lacks finishing depth in the lower order. Much of the hype around this India-Pakistan contest was driven by their prior decision of boycotting the match rather than on-field quality," he said.
Reflecting on fans’ expectations, Kaneria stated that even in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan traditionally enjoys support, declining fan presence signals growing disappointment with the team’s performances.
"Even in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan enjoys strong support, the visible decline in fan presence reflects broader concerns about the direction of Pakistan cricket. If performances do not improve, it is hard to expect fans to continue taking the team seriously. Overall, it was a very disappointing display from Pakistan," Kaneria concluded.
