New Delhi: Veteran Ravichandran Ashwin stirred up debate at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after he urged Pakistan to make bold choices ahead of Tuesday’s must-win Super 8 match against England at Pallekh. Ashwin took to social media to suggest that Pakistan should promote Fakhar Zaman to the middle-order if they really want to avoid relegation in the World Cup.
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“If Pakistan are serious about this World Cup, they need to consider giving Fakhar Zaman a try in the middle order,” Ashwin wrote on
“He can sweep and use his feet against Rashid and Dawson to cause serious damage in the middle of the order. This has been Nepal’s recipe for success against Rashid and there are some key lessons that other teams can try to learn from. Getting into square boundaries, winning the ball in the pace zone,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin pointed to Nepal’s success against Rashid and even shared a wagon wheel graphic to illustrate how getting into the square boundary and using footwork disrupted England’s control in the midfield.
The suggestion comes at a time when spin is expected to be dominant at the Palleke International Cricket Stadium, where a speed-reducing surface has affected the results. England’s spin, backed by pacer Jofra Archer, played a decisive role in the win over Sri Lanka and their batting found an unexpected hero.
England continued to win despite inconsistent performances from senior players like Jos Buttler, with captain Harry Brooke backing his experienced core to claim victory soon. Opener Phil Salt also found his form again at crucial moments.
Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan faces an even more dangerous situation. Their first Super 8 match against New Zealand was disastrous, leaving them with little room for error. While their spin attack provides variety, their batting consistency has struggled to get past leading scorer Sahibzada Farhan.
