India secured a commanding victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup final, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Posting 255 runs in their innings, India bowled out New Zealand for just 159, marking a one-sided contest that highlighted the depth and talent of the Indian squad. While Indian players celebrated their historic triumph, the result triggered a strong reaction in Pakistan, with former cricketer Ahmed Shehzad publicly criticizing his country’s cricketing system.

Speaking on the Haarna Mana Hai show in Pakistan, Shehzad contrasted India’s structured approach with Pakistan’s perceived shortcomings, praising players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan for seizing limited opportunities and becoming match-winners. Samson was named Player of the Tournament, while Kishan impressed with key performances despite being previously sidelined. Shehzad emphasized that India’s success stems from the combination of talent and a systematic approach to player development, which he argued is lacking in Pakistan.

Shehzad also highlighted Abhishek Sharma’s blistering innings of 52 off 21 balls in the final, calling it an example of India’s fearless and high-pressure cricket culture. He ridiculed Pakistan’s habit of celebrating victories over lower-ranked teams such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda, suggesting that Pakistani players do not consistently perform against top-tier opposition. “No. They play big matches against big teams. They play big series,” Shehzad said while commending India’s competitive mindset.

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The former batter contrasted India’s aggressive target-setting approach with Pakistan’s conservative tendencies. He noted that while India aimed to cross 250 runs and assert control early, Pakistan would have settled for 180 runs and relied on bowlers to defend, reflecting a different team philosophy. Shehzad criticized Pakistan for lacking the ambition and strategy necessary to succeed against elite international sides, underlining the importance of peaking at the right time in major tournaments.

Shehzad’s remarks also extended to Pakistan’s rankings in international cricket. He suggested that the ICC should create a separate ranking system for Pakistan, pitting them against teams like Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda instead of top-ranked nations such as India, Australia, and England. This, he argued, would reflect the current realities of Pakistan’s performance and shield the team from unrealistic expectations against world-class opponents.

The meltdown from Shehzad underscores ongoing concerns within Pakistan cricket about player development, strategic planning, and consistency at the highest level. Meanwhile, India’s T20 World Cup victory has been celebrated globally as a demonstration of effective talent management, disciplined preparation, and strong on-field execution. The triumph reinforces India’s dominance in the format and sets a benchmark for other teams aspiring to match their high standards.

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