Pakistan came into their last Super 8 clash of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy as a virtual knockout, as they needed to earn a massive victory to polish their net run rate and knock out New Zealand from the event and get the tickets for the semifinals.

Pakistan made the right approach in the team selection and got the best start with the opening stand of 176 runs between Fakhar Zaman, who smashed a fine knock of 84 runs in 42 balls with the help of nine boundaries and four sixes, and Sahibzada Farhan, who celebrated 100 runs in 60 balls. But they lost their eight wickets for 36 runs in 25 balls and got restricted to 212/8. 

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Once Sri Lanka crossed the 147-run mark, Pakistan’s dream of getting to the semifinal was demolished. Dasun Shanaka had nearly defeated them in the chase with his powerplay knock of an unbeaten 76 runs in 31 balls, shouldering on two boundaries and eight sixes at a strike rate of 245.16.

Fans react funnily after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 exit

Their trump card of the spin department, Usman Tariq, failed for his figures of 0/43 in four overs under pressure, while Shaheen Afridi was taken to the cleaners in the last over of the innings. They eventually won the clash by five runs, but that was too little at the end.

Here is how the fans reacted to Pakistan’s T20 WC 2026 exit

The same players who cost you this ICC event will cost you next event again. And we can’t do anything about it. They are too powerful. And that’s due to the PSL. They control Pakistan cricket through the PSL. And we end up in the same shit every ICC event.

— hazharoon (@hazharoon) February 28, 2026

• Agreed to play India after boycott decision by their government
• Got humiliated by India in the match
• Failed to qualify for the semi-finals despite Qudrat ka Nizam
• Failed to stop India from hosting both the semi-finals and final

Goodbye, Pakistan, until next time. 👋

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) February 28, 2026

Qudrat ka nizam hitting Pakistan harder than Shaheen's yorkers 😂#T20WorldCup2026 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/8MQQTIIr2e

— GAURAV (@crazyGaurav_) February 28, 2026

Qudrat ka nizam ☕ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤣🤣🤣🤣🙏🏻🤣🙏🏻🤣🙏🏻🤣🤣🙏🏻🤣🙏🏻🤣🤣🙏🏻🤣🙏🏻🤣🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/FYKVTzcwtj

— Aryan 🦥 (@iAryan_Sharma) February 28, 2026

That's the third time NZ will go to Semi's on NRR and Pakistan will miss out. Lmao some day Qudrat ka Nizam will catch you.

— 𝙈𝙤𝙝𝙨𝙞𝙣 (@shahxyz_) February 28, 2026

Plz Allah G things are getting out of the hand plz send Qudrat ka Nizam 😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏😭😭🙏🙏🙏😭😭

— Adeel 🔸 (@hypersthetic) February 28, 2026

Aaj Pakistan ka sahi mein Qudrat Ka Nizam hua

Well done Lankan Bhai

— Aditya Jakki (@adityajakki) February 28, 2026

Finally "Qudrat Ka Nizam" drama is over.
Pakistan failed to qualify for semi final even after fixing the match. pic.twitter.com/EtCVs79wRL

— Harpreet Singh (@lubana_honey06) February 28, 2026