Mohsin Naqvi was irate on his way out of stadium, told team manager India loss ‘unacceptable’; fury inside camp revealed

Mohsin Naqvi was miffed with Pakistan’s performance in the 61-run defeat, a loss that has now left them on the verge of elimination.

Updated on: Feb 17, 2026, 08:15:39 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had travelled to Colombo to watch the marquee T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday, but he left the stadium before the match ended. PTI later showed footage of him walking out of the R Premadasa Stadium even before the final result.

Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman. was present in Colombo for the India-Pakistan game (AFP)

The news agency reported on Monday that Naqvi was miffed with Pakistan’s performance in the 61-run defeat, a loss that has now left them on the verge of elimination.

A source told PTI that Naqvi conveyed his “displeasure” to team manager Naved Akram Cheema after Pakistan’s horror batting display. “The Chairman left the match early at the Premadasa Stadium as it became obvious Pakistan were going to face another defeat to India,” the source said.

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Another senior PCB official told the news agency that Naqvi also informed Cheema that the performance against India was “not understandable or acceptable.”

The report further revealed that after the game, the team management unleashed fury in the dressing room, with head coach Mike Hesson telling the players they had not played to their full potential against India.

“Late at night, the management think tank decided enough was enough and that it would bench Babar and Shaheen, and try Salman Mirza/Naseem Shah and Fakhar Zaman against Namibia on Wednesday,” the source added.

The source indicated that if Pakistan go ahead with the changes in their final Group A match, Babar and Shaheen’s World Cup campaign in this edition could effectively be over as the management is also keen to try out young Khawaja Nafay in the middle order.

Pakistan must beat Namibia in their next game, on Wednesday at the SSC Stadium in Colombo, to seal a Super Eight berth. The African side had earlier defeated lower-ranked USA and the Netherlands before suffering a heavy loss to India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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