THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
It was supposed to be Pakistan’s moment of redemption. After all the drama about boycotting the T20 World Cup, after Mohsin Naqvi’s big talks and bold statements, the match against India in Colombo was finally happening. But what unfolded on that cricket field was nothing short of a complete disaster for Pakistan.
India batted first and posted 175 runs, with Ishan Kishan playing a brilliant knock of 77 runs. He destroyed the Pakistani bowling attack, hitting boundaries all over the ground. The Pakistani bowlers had no answers to his aggressive batting. When India finished their innings, 175 looked like a challenging total, but it was definitely chaseable if Pakistan played well.
But Pakistan’s batting collapsed like a house of cards. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in just the second over, sending shockwaves through the Pakistani camp. The same Bumrah that Sahibzada Farhan had mocked on social media, the same bowler Farhan claimed to have dominated in the Asia Cup, was now taking Pakistan apart piece by piece.
Farhan had made such big claims before the match. He had posted videos on social media bragging about hitting Bumrah for three sixes in the Asia Cup. He had laughed and mocked, saying how easy it was to hit the world’s number one bowler. All that bravado, all that chest-thumping on social media, came crashing down in gʻColombo.
The Pakistani batsmen fell one after another. Only Usman Khan showed some fight, scoring 44 runs, but once he got out, the game was completely over. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for just 114 runs in the 18th over. A massive defeat by 61 runs. It was embarrassing. It was painful to watch for Pakistani fans.
But the most interesting part of this whole story was Mohsin Naqvi’s reaction. The PCB chairman had come to Colombo with so much confidence. He had met the players before the match, given them a pep talk, and said the team was in good form. He had received a grand welcome in Colombo with traditional Sri Lankan dancers. He sat in the VVIP box next to the Sri Lankan President and other important dignitaries, ready to celebrate Pakistan’s victory.
Instead, he had to watch his team being demolished. When Pakistan was struggling at 97 runs for 8 wickets, Naqvi couldn’t take it anymore. He got up from his seat and left the stadium. He literally fled in his car, unable to watch the complete humiliation of his team. He couldn’t even stay to see the match finish.
The irony was too much to ignore. This was the same Mohsin Naqvi who had created all that drama about boycotting the tournament. He had made big statements about principles and respect. He had acted tough, as if Pakistan was doing everyone a favor by showing up. And then his team got thrashed, and he ran away before the match even ended.
Many people said Naqvi should have stuck to his original plan and boycotted the match. At least then he wouldn’t have had to sit there in front of world leaders and watch India destroy Pakistan. At least he could have avoided the embarrassment of leaving the stadium early like someone running away from a disaster.
The defeat was bad enough on its own. India completely outplayed Pakistan in every department – batting, bowling, and fielding. But what made it worse was all the talk before the match. Farhan’s social media mockery of Bumrah, Naqvi’s confident statements, the whole boycott drama – everything backfired spectacularly.
Cricket has a funny way of teaching lessons to those who talk too much. Farhan learned that hitting a few sixes in one series doesn’t make you the king of cricket. Naqvi learned that big talk means nothing if your team can’t perform on the field. And Pakistan learned once again that India remains their biggest nightmare in T20 World Cups – this was India’s 8th win in 9 matches against Pakistan in this tournament.
As Naqvi’s car drove away from the Premadasa Stadium with the match still ongoing, it perfectly summed up Pakistan’s entire campaign – full of drama, big words, and ultimately, a humiliating retreat. Sometimes silence is better than bold claims, especially when you can’t back them up on the cricket field.
