Pakistan Women’s team mentor Wahab Riaz has expressed deep disappointment after his side’s dramatic collapse against Bangladesh ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Chasing a modest target of 124 in Southampton, Pakistan appeared firmly in control at 72 for 2 after 12 overs, requiring less than a run a ball with eight wickets in hand. However, a stunning batting meltdown saw them finish on 100 for 8, losing by 23 runs and crashing out of the tournament.
Speaking after the match, Wahab admitted he struggled to explain what had happened. He credited Bangladesh for maintaining composure under pressure but insisted Pakistan had largely been responsible for their own downfall.
Bangladesh’s spin duo, Nahida Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla, played a crucial role in turning the game around. Their disciplined bowling strangled Pakistan’s scoring rate and triggered a collapse that saw the team lose six wickets for just 14 runs. Remarkably, Pakistan failed to score a boundary after the eighth over.
Wahab stressed that the pitch did not offer excessive assistance to the bowlers and felt the defeat came down to poor execution and decision-making. He believed Pakistan should have wrapped up the chase several overs earlier instead of allowing Bangladesh back into the contest.
The defeat continued a worrying trend for Pakistan, who have suffered multiple batting collapses throughout the tournament. Against India, they lost seven wickets for 31 runs, while only a remarkable partnership between captain Fatima Sana and Tuba Hassan rescued them against South Africa.
Wahab called on the senior players to take greater responsibility in pressure situations, emphasizing that the team cannot rely solely on Fatima Sana to rescue them repeatedly.
With Pakistan now eliminated, their remaining matches against Australia and the Netherlands will only be for pride. Wahab said the coaching staff will continue supporting the players through individual sessions and tactical discussions, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the players to perform when it matters most.
