Fatima Sana & Aaliya Riaz rift at T20 WC 2026

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana was reportedly furious after teammate Aaliya Riaz’s husband stayed in the team hotel room allotted to the skipper during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, adding to the chaos surrounding Pakistan’s miserable campaign. The Women in Green have endured a nightmare run in England, losing their first four matches on the trot, including Tuesday night’s defeat to Australia in Leeds. They had also failed to win a single game in the tri-series against Ireland and the West Indies before the World Cup, stretching their winless run even further.

Amid the poor on-field results, reports have now pointed to serious off-field tension inside the Pakistan camp. Social media posts and mainstream reports have claimed that the dressing-room atmosphere has turned tense, with disagreements emerging between players and support staff during the tournament.

One of the biggest flashpoints reportedly involved captain Fatima Sana and mentor Wahab Riaz, who are said to have clashed over selection matters, while the issue involving Aaliya Riaz’s husband further deepened the unrest in the camp.

What happened? Aaliya Riaz's husband found staying in Pakistan Team hotel during Women's T20 World Cup

Before Pakistan’s Women’s T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh, reports claimed that senior player Aaliya Riaz’s husband, Ali Younis, was staying in the team hotel. The issue reportedly became a major talking point inside the Pakistan camp, especially as the team was already struggling badly in the tournament.

According to the reports, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana objected to Ali Younis staying in the room allotted to her at the team hotel. Sana was reportedly unhappy with the arrangement and insisted that Younis be asked to vacate the room, turning the matter into a serious internal issue within the squad.

The controversy did not end there. Reports also claimed that Aaliya later went sightseeing with her husband a day before Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh, despite a team practice session being scheduled. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not officially confirmed the claims, the reports have added to the scrutiny around the team’s off-field environment during a disappointing World Cup campaign.

Why is Fatima Sana angry? Inside the Pakistan Women's Team hotel controversy

Fatima Sana was reportedly angry because she felt Aaliya Riaz had broken team discipline during the Women’s T20 World Cup. According to reports, the Pakistan captain wanted disciplinary action to be taken against the senior batter after her husband, Ali Younis, was found staying in the team hotel. Sana also reportedly wanted Aaliya to be dropped from the playing XI for Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh.

However, mentor Wahab Riaz, who has been acting as Pakistan’s unofficial coach, was reportedly against dropping Aaliya from the side. This disagreement is said to have created fresh tension inside the camp, with Sana unhappy over the way the matter was handled. Reports claimed the captain believed proper protocols were not followed despite the seriousness of the issue.

The tension reportedly worsened after Pakistan lost to Bangladesh, a defeat that confirmed their exit from the tournament. Aaliya, batting at No. 5, was dismissed for a duck as Pakistan managed only 100/8 while chasing 124. Reports claimed Sana then got into a heated argument with Wahab and blamed him for the loss, saying his decision to back Aaliya despite the controversy had hurt the team.

PCB's strict 'No Partners' policy — And why Aaliya Riaz may have crossed the line

The controversy around Aaliya Riaz has become even bigger because the Pakistan Cricket Board is known to follow strict discipline rules during major tournaments. Reports have suggested that Aaliya’s husband, Ali Younis, staying in the team hotel was seen as a breach of team protocol, which is why captain Fatima Sana reportedly pushed for action. The issue has raised fresh questions over whether a clear “no partners” rule was broken inside the Pakistan camp during the Women’s T20 World Cup.

The reports have also pointed to deeper problems within the squad. There have been claims of groupings inside the dressing room, while relations between some senior players and members of the coaching staff are said to be strained. The coaches are reportedly unhappy because plans discussed in meetings are not being carried out properly during matches, adding to the frustration around the team’s poor campaign.

This is also not the first time Pakistan cricket has been hit by reports of dressing-room unrest during an ICC event. Similar stories had emerged when the men’s team struggled in the 2023 and 2024 World Cups, and some of those claims were later found to be true. The women’s team has also seen constant changes in coaching staff over the last few years, with the PCB moving through several names, including Mark Coles, Junaid Khan, Basit Ali, Saleem Jaffar and Mohtashim Rasheed, which has only added to the instability around the setup.