NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s narrow loss to England in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup has sparked ugly backlash online, with several fans targeting captain Salman Ali Agha’s family with abusive and threatening messages.Salman’s wife Sabe responded on Instagram saying threats directed at her or their child will not help Pakistan win the tournament. Despite the team’s two-goal defeat in Pallekele on Tuesday, many supporters also condemned the toxic reactions and called for restraint and responsibility on social media.
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Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan said such behavior was unacceptable and called for action by cybercrime authorities. He recalled that he faced similar hostility after defeating Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup final.Emotional reactions from sections of the Pakistani fan base during ICC events are nothing new. After the team’s quarter-final against India in the 1996 World Cup, angry protesters vandalized the houses of some players, including then-captain Wasim Akram.On the field, England became the first team to seal a semi-final berth at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a win over Pakistan. The defeat, coupled with Pakistan’s earlier elimination against New Zealand, left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance. With England already through, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are fighting for the remaining semi-final spot.England started their Super 8 leg with a 51-run win over Sri Lanka in Kandy before overcoming Pakistan at the same venue. Captain Harry Brook led from the front, smashing his maiden T20I century and becoming the first captain to score a hundred in T20 World Cup history. Chasing 166, England were in early trouble at 58/4 in the eighth over. Promoted to No.3, Brook rebuilt the innings with a 45-run stand alongside Sam Curran, followed by a crucial 52-run partnership with Will Jacks that shifted the momentum. He reached his hundred in style – clearing the ropes over cover before smashing a boundary at mid-on.Although Brook fell with England 155/6 and victory in sight, a brief wobble saw three wickets fall for just six runs, adding to the late tension. Needing three runs in the final over with two wickets in hand, Jofra Archer sealed the match with a boundary over mid-wicket.
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Pakistan’s semi-final fate will largely be determined by the result of England’s clash with New Zealand in Colombo on Friday. A win in New Zealand would take them to five points and seal qualification, making Pakistan’s final Super Eights match against Sri Lanka meaningless.However, if England win, they will top the group with six points. That would leave New Zealand at three, giving Pakistan a lifeline – provided they beat Sri Lanka in Kandy. In that event, both Pakistan and New Zealand would end up on three points, taking the race into a clean-run shootout. However, the numbers suggest that Pakistan faces a major challenge.To illustrate, if England beat New Zealand by 50 runs, Pakistan – assuming a first innings total of around 170 – would need to win by around 20 runs to move ahead on net. The equation will get tighter if Pakistan chases. They would probably have to overhaul the target in about 17.5 overs to leapfrog New Zealand. Anything slower could see the Blackcaps retain their advantage.England’s strong run in the Super Eights has cleared the table and with Sri Lanka out of contention, the final semi-final spot is set for a dramatic finish. For Pakistan, it’s not just about winning anymore – it’s about winning big and relying on England to tip the scales in their favour.
