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Saqlain's odd ‘bewakoof-dileri-buzdil’ theory as Pakistan pushed to brink; Hafeez bursts out laughing: Where do we fit?

Saqlain Mushtaq spun a bizarre theory, leaving fellow panellists Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul and Sana Mir in splits.

Published on: Feb 26, 2026, 13:03:22 IST
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New Zealand's emphatic 61-run win against T20 World Cup hosts Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Colombo further dented Pakistan's chances of reaching the semifinals. With a solitary win and a point from the washed-out game against Pakistan, New Zealand sit second in the Super 8 Group 2 table with a superior net run rate of (+) 3.05. Pakistan, who lost their previous match against England, are placed third, with their fate hinging on other results apart from securing a win against Sri Lanka in their final game.

Pakistan stand on brink of T20 World Cup elimination
Pakistan stand on brink of T20 World Cup elimination

Amid the mounting pressure, legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq spun a bizarre theory on the Pakistani show Tapmad, leaving fellow panellists Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul and Sana Mir in splits.

ALSO READ: Wasim Akram struggles to hide pain as Pakistan clutch at straws to keep T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive – Watch

Reflecting on Sri Lanka's defeat and how it pushed Pakistan to the brink of elimination, Mushtaq launched into a rambling explanation of the kinds of teams that flourish in sport and stressed the importance of a strong administrative structure to drive change and build a winning side.

"There are four types of individuals and organisations present. Pehla, jo hai akalmand aur dileri (First, who is intelligent and brave). The higher the level of intelligence, the braver one will be. That means, the more you become aware of the conditions and the situation and gain more knowledge... they will rise to the top. Look at the England team, then New Zealand and South Africa. They were intelligent and played bravely. Number 2 pe hai kam akalmand aur kam dileri (less intelligent and slightly less brave). Number three, buzdil aur thoda aur kam akalmand (cowardly and less intelligent). And finally, number four, buzdil aur bewakoof (cowardly and stupid).

To rise to the top, you need to gain knowledge, which will give you belief and make you proactive and brave. And only a good system can make a team intelligent and brave. If you ask a bowler from our team, they will show the field position and tell you how they will bowl. That is an uneducated approach. But if you ask the other type of bowlers, they will do complete research and then tell you how they will start and finish the over with a full analysis of the opposition. To make our team stronger, we have to build that system," he said.

Hafeez, Gul and Mir, all of whom were on the same panel, struggled to contain their laughter. Hafeez then interrupted Mushtaq to ask, "Which category do we fall under?" Gul and Mir echoed the question, before Hafeez quipped, “I gave our team 10th position.”

Pakistan’s semifinal hopes now hinge on the New Zealand-England clash. If the 2022 champions , already through to the semis , beat the Black Caps, Pakistan will need a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka to stay alive in the race.

  • Aratrick Mondal
    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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