T20 World Cup 2026: Salman Agha’s wife hits back at trolls for targeting their child after Pakistan’s Super 8 loss to England

In the high-stakes arena of international cricket, the line between professional criticism and personal intimidation is often dangerously blurred. After Pakistan’s narrow defeat by two wickets England in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026the spotlight shifted from the pitch at Pallekele to a more disturbing scene on social media. Sabba Manzerthe wife of Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aghatook a courageous stand against online trolls after they targeted her and her young son with a barrage of abusive messages.

Salman Agha’s wife Sabba Manzerr is calling out online trolls who are targeting her family through social media posts

As the dust settled on a pulsating encounter that saw England’s Harry Brook Delivering victory with a masterclass century, the digital fallout for Pakistan’s leadership was swift and severe. Agha, who took over as T20 captaincy at the end of 2024 after the dismissal of Muhammad Rizwanbecame the main target for frustrated fans. However, the vitriol quickly spread to his family, prompting his wife: Sabba Manzerto break her silence.

Via Instagram, Manzer shared a powerful message that breaks through the toxicity: “Abusing me or my innocent son is not going to win the World Cup, Pakistani fans.” Her statement highlighted a growing and disturbing trend in South Asian cricket culture where families, who have no hand in the team’s execution on the field, are harassed during periods of sporting failure.

The response comes at a time when Agha’s leadership is under intense scrutiny. I’ve seen something like this before Babar Azam And Shaheen Afridi losing their captaincy role due to inconsistent results, Agha now faces the same pressure. However, the assault on his child has led to widespread condemnation from the cricket community, shifting the conversation from tactical errors to the moral conduct of the ‘Green Shirts’ faithful.

Also WATCH: Mohammad Hafeez humiliates Saqlain Mushtaq in fiery altercation after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Super 8 defeat to England

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign is teetering on the edge

The loss to England leaves the 2009 champions in a precarious position. Pakistan’s journey in the Super 8s has been hampered by inconsistency and a setback; after a rain-hit washout New Zealandthey now have just one point from two games. The road to the semi-finals is no longer in their own hands, and the mathematical wonders that often define Pakistan’s tournament history are once again their only hope.

To progress, Agha’s men need to record an impressive win against Sri Lanka in their last match on February 28. Even then, they will demand England beat New Zealand and hope other results in Group 2 keep their Net Run Rate (NRR) competitive. Despite the bleak outlook, Agha remains challenging. “Cricket is a fun game; everything is possible. There is always hope, and as a team we will always believe”, the skipper commented after the match.

This battle follows a disappointing pattern for Pakistan, who failed to reach the knockout stages 2024 T20 World Cup and the Championship trophy 2025. As the team prepares for their do-or-die clash in Colombo, the focus remains on whether they can channel external pressure into on-field performance or whether another early exit will lead to a total overhaul of the squad.

Also READ: Pakistan’s qualification scenario for 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final after falling to England in Super 8