Match Fixing Allegation? Pakistan legend urges ICC probe into WI vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Was the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 between West Indies and South Africa (WI vs SA)  fixed? Pakistan legend Saqlain Mushtaq raised concerns over match number 47 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Mushtaq claimed that the Caribbean might have deliberately lost the match. 

Again South Africa, West Indies' batting line-up was troubled by a sudden batting collapse. South African pacers- Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch- were all over the West Indian batting order during the initial stage of the first innings. 

Within the 12th over of the first innings, West Indies lost their 7 batters for only 87 runs. Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd finally did the much-needed rescue job. Holder missed a half-century by only one run, and Shepherd remained not out for 52 off 37. Because of these two batters, the former champions of the T20 World Cup posted 176-8 in 20 overs. 

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The batting collapse of the West Indies came as a shocker as they scored over 250 runs against Zimbabwe in their previous Super 8 match. A part of cricket fans and experts might have expected the same fireworks from their blades, instead, it was mostly misfired by the attacking batters of the West Indies. South Africa won the match by 9 wickets, and 23 balls to spare. 

After the one-sided match, Pakistan legend Shaqlain Mushtaq requested the International Cricket Council to take a look at the match. He claimed that money might have involved in the clash, as multiple West Indies cricketers are linked with several IPL teams.

Former Pakistan cricketer casts concern over WI vs SA Super 8 match, T20 World Cup 2026

"This pitch was flat, and despite that, the West Indies delivered an extremely poor batting performance. Several West Indies batsmen got out playing reckless shots, which is unusual because wickets were falling continuously from the other end. Their players receive expensive contracts in the IPL, and the West Indies Cricket Board may benefit financially in some way, perhaps this match was designed in a certain manner", Shaqlain Mushtaq raised the concern.

"How a team like West Indies could perform so badly on such a surface even though there was a visible lack of effort in their bowling performance", he added.