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

The historic Pallekele International Cricket Stadium witnessed a night of drama on February 24, 2026, then England facing outwards Pakistan by two wickets in the 45th match of the T20 World Cup Super Eights. While Harry Brook‘s sensational 51-ball century guided England to the semi-finals, but the aftermath in the Pakistani camp was anything but festive. After the narrow defeat in the Group 2 match, there was a fiery televised exchange between the former captain Mohammed Hafeez and spider legend Saqlain Mushtaq has gone viral, exposing deep disagreements over the team’s tactical direction and the roles of its key all-rounders.

Tensions are rising as Mohammad Hafeez reacts strongly to Saqlain Mushtaq after England’s defeat

With Pakistan aiming for almost certain elimination, the post-match analysis on a prominent TV channel turned into a battlefield. The core of the argument rested on the usefulness of Muhammad Nawaz And Shadab Khan. Hafeez, known for his blunt ‘Professor’ persona, wondered whether these players were selected based on merit or vague labels. “Is he a bowling all-rounder or a batting all-rounder?Hafeez asked, specifically addressing Shadab.

Mushtaq, who has previously coached the national team and is Shadab’s father-in-law, tried to defend the duo, claiming that they had equal ability in both departments. “Look, he’s a little bit of both,” Saqlain insisted.

However, Hafeez came back with a personal anecdote to illustrate his point: “I played for Pakistan as an all-rounder. My main job was hitting. If I don’t score, I don’t need my 8, 6 or 4 overs. My captain always told me that if I don’t come with the bat, we don’t need your bowling. Nawaz’s main job is bowling. If he can’t do that, we don’t want him.”

Critics have seen Hafeez’s comments as a thinly veiled joke on Shadab’s stagnant form. This isn’t the first time the two have clashed; a similar row occurred after Pakistan’s recent loss to India, where Hafeez blamed the senior core while Saqlain pointed fingers at the support staff.

Here’s the video:

🚨🚨 HEATED ARGUMENT BETWEEN HAFEEZ AND SAQLAIN MUSHTAQ🚨

-Saqlain tries to defend his son-in-law

-Hafeez asks why he is in the team? What are his first priorities within the team?

• Shadab is the biggest Parchi after Babar Azam ❗pic.twitter.com/o4sm5MbhFh

— SheR•ALI (@Sher__Ali) February 24, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Shaheen Afridi reveals the reason behind Pakistan’s defeat against England in the Super 8 match

Shadab Khan’s dismal bowling run during T20 World Cup 2026

The tension between the two legends is fueled by Shadab’s statistical decline as a frontline bowler. While Shadab provided a cameo with the bat (23 runs) against EnglandHis bowling, his main job, remained ineffective at a time when Pakistan needed breakthroughs to stop the bowling Harry Brook attack.

Shadab’s journey through the 2026 T20 World Cup It’s been a rollercoaster of inconsistency. Apart from a standout performance against Namibiahis ability to contain top-level hitters has disappeared:

The figures highlight a worrying trend: in crucial matches against major countries such as India and England Shadab has failed to take a single wicket. As Pakistan prepares for a “do-or-die” final Super 8 match against Sri Lankathe debate over whether the team is too dependent on struggling all-rounders continues to divide the country’s cricket icons.

Also READ: What does Jofra Archer’s ‘C’ celebration mean? England pacer causes stir after Saim Ayub’s wicket in 2026 T20 World Cup