Pakistan have further humiliation stored after defeat vs India; Upset vs Namibia can knock them out of T20 World Cup

Pakistan’s campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 is on the brink after Saturday’s 61-run defeat to India in Colombo, a game in which India posted 175/7 and bowled Pakistan out for 114. The loss left Pakistan stranded on four points with a negative net run rate, while India sealed Super 8 qualification.

That turns Group A into a simple, brutal equation: Pakistan control their fate only if they win their final match. If they don’t, their tournament effectively ends that afternoon - and the only real question becomes whether the United States or the Netherlands take the second spot behind India.

Two matches remain in the group: Pakistan vs Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, and India vs Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, both on February 18.

Also Read: ‘This is for India’: Suryakumar Yadav makes emphatic declaration after handing Pakistan brutal thrashing in Colombo

From there, the Netherlands become the only team with a live chase of second place. If the Dutch beat India, they also end on four points, creating a points tie involving USA and the Netherlands (and, on points only, Pakistan too). The qualifier then becomes a net run rate contest - but Pakistan’s loss means they are almost certainly out of that race, leaving a fight between USA’s existing cushion and whatever NRR swing the Netherlands can manufacture against India.

In short Pakistan’s last group game is a knockout in everything but name.

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