Pakistan’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 came to a heartbreaking end, despite a dominant batting display in their final Super Eight fixture against Sri Lanka. Entering the match against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, the Men in Green faced a daunting mathematical challenge, to leapfrog New Zealand and secure a semifinal spot, they needed to win by a margin of at least 64 runs. Although they posted a formidable total of 212/8—powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s record-breaking century and Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 84—their hopes were dashed mid-innings when Sri Lanka crossed the 147-run mark.
The moment Sri Lanka reached 148, it became mathematically impossible for Pakistan to surpass New Zealand’s superior Net Run Rate of +1.390. This confirmation officially eliminated Salman Agha’s side from the tournament, allowing the Black Caps to join England as the second team from Group 2 to qualify for the semifinals. While Pakistan's openers had set a historic platform with a 176-run stand, their inability to restrict the Sri Lankan middle order ensured that New Zealand would advance to the semifinals regardless of the final match result.