In a high-stakes encounter with visible friction in the shelter, balanced clinical dominance in the field, Pakistan They secured their place in the Super Eight stage T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan beat Namibia by a massive 102 runs in the 35th match of Group A at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on 18 February 2026.
Despite the comprehensive victory, the title of the night just wasn’t there Sahibzade Farhan‘s T20I grand dame of the century, but a sharp, heated exchange between Pakistan’s coach, Mike Hessonand captain Salman Ali Agha it has since gone viral.
Mike Hesson and Salman Agha have a heated argument during the crucial PAK vs NAM showdown
The tension in the Pakistani camp reached a boiling point in the first innings. After a solid partnership of 67 with Farhan, Agha was dismissed for 38 off 23 balls. When the captain returned to the dugout, television cameras captured an incredibly animated discussion between him and coach Hesson.
Apparently, Hesson was criticizing Agha’s shot selection or the team’s tactical approach during intermediate passes. The exchange quickly turned sour; Clearly displeased with the feedback, Agha was seen making aggressive gestures before slamming the water bottle down in frustration. The outburst stunned Hesson for a moment, though the veteran coach continued to speak as Agha nodded dismissively.
Interestingly, ex-Capt Babar Azam came under direct crossfire. Seated between the batting coach and the captain, Babar remained a mute spectator, looking visibly awkward and refusing to intervene in the unfolding drama. This internal friction comes after Pakistan’s 61-run loss to India a few days ago and shows that the pressure of the tournament is weighing heavily on the leadership.
We present the video:
When Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha told Babar Azam that he was the next player to come pic.twitter.com/IU3DrPtoJp
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) February 18, 2026
Pakistan is set to face a tough Super Eight challenge
Despite internal strife, the 102-run win against Namibia served its main purpose: qualification. Pakistan joined the elite ranks after finishing the group stage as the last team to qualify for the Super Eights, a must-win scenario. However, the road ahead is not easy.
Pakistan is in the 2nd group of the Super Eight stage New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka. The team will benefit from familiar surroundings as all Group 2 games are scheduled to remain in Sri Lanka using venues in Colombo and Kandy. However, the level of competition will increase exponentially.
The Men in Green begin their Super Eights campaign against New Zealand in Colombo. While a win over Namibia provided a mathematical lifeline, the games ahead will test whether this team can hold together under the intense heat of their World Cup quest.
Also READ: Explained: Which teams will Pakistan face in T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8?
