Pakistan has been officially knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a thrilling encounter against co-hosts Sri Lanka. Although Pakistan secured a narrow 5-run victory on Saturday, they failed to meet the specific mathematical requirement to overhaul New Zealand’s Net Run Rate, confirming their departure from the tournament even as the match concluded. Pakistan’s elimination was sealed mid-chase once the Lankans crossed the 147-run mark, as the required 65-run plus margin needed for qualification slipped out of reach.
Pakistan to Return Home
The moment Sri Lanka scored their 148th run, Pakistan’s qualification dreams evaporated. Even a victory from that point onward was purely academic, as their NRR could no longer surpass New Zealand’s +1.390. The elimination came on a day when Sahibzada Farhan made history by shattering Virat Kohli’s record for most runs in a single tournament. His 100 off 60 balls took his tally to 383 runs, but it wasn’t enough to carry his team across the line.
Farhan and Fakhar Zaman (84) had earlier combined for a world-record 176-run opening stand, powering Pakistan to a massive 212/8.
The Final Over Drama: Shaheen vs Shanaka
The match reached a fever pitch in the final over, with Dasun Shanaka threatening to pull off a miraculous chase. Needing a massive total in the final over, Shanaka took aim at Shaheen Afridi, blasting 22 runs off the first four balls. With the match slipping away, Shaheen kept his composure, delivering two crucial dot balls to finish the game and secure the win for Pakistan.
Despite the loss, Shanaka’s blistering 76 off 31 balls ensured that Sri Lanka crossed the 147-run mark, the specific threshold that ended Pakistan’s semi-final dreams.
Final Group 2 Standings
| Team | Status | Points |
| England | Qualified (1st) | 6 |
| New Zealand | Qualified (2nd) | 3 |
| Pakistan | Eliminated | 3 |
| Sri Lanka | Eliminated | 0 |
