Pakistan Women's team is reportedly dealing with internal tension during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England. According to reports, differences have emerged between captain Fatima Sana and team mentor Wahab Riaz over selection decisions and disciplinary matters, adding to the team's disappointing campaign.
Pakistan Women will next face the Netherlands in their final ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 group match in Bristol on June 27. The team has already been eliminated after losing all four group-stage matches. Pakistan also failed to win a match in the tri-series against Ireland and the West Indies before the World Cup.
Fatima Sana Upset After Pakistan Teammate's Husband Stays in her Room
According to PTI, the controversy reportedly began before Pakistan's group-stage match against Bangladesh, when captain Fatima Sana objected to Ali Younis, the husband of senior player Aaliya Riaz, staying in her room at the team hotel.
On Sana's request, Ali Younis was asked to leave the room. The report also claimed that, a day before the Bangladesh match, Aaliya Riaz and her husband went sightseeing instead of attending the team's scheduled practice session.
"It was on Sana's insistence that Ali Younis was asked to vacate the room. Then, on the day before the game against Bangladesh, Aaliya and her husband went out for sightseeing when there was a team practice scheduled," the agency quoted in a report.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, although the claims have been widely discussed across social media and news platforms.
Fatima Sana Wanted Aaliya Riaz Dropped Before Bangladesh Match
According to the report, Fatima Sana wanted Aaliya Riaz dropped for the match against Bangladesh after she missed the scheduled practice session. However, Wahab Riaz backed the senior player and insisted on her selection.
Pakistan went on to lose the match by 23 runs after failing to chase 123. Reports claimed that after the defeat, in which Aaliya failed to make an impact, Sana confronted Wahab in front of the team and blamed him for ignoring disciplinary standards while selecting the playing XI.
The reports also claimed that the dressing room is divided into groups, with strained relationships between some senior players and the coaching staff. The coaches are reportedly unhappy that their plans are not being followed during matches.
Similar reports of dressing-room issues have surfaced in Pakistan cricket before. During the men's team's disappointing campaigns in the 2023 and 2024 ICC World Cups, reports of internal tensions also emerged, with some later proving to be true.
Pakistan Continue to Struggle as PCB Faces Fresh Questions
Pakistan's disappointing World Cup campaign followed a winless tri-series against Ireland and the West Indies before the tournament. The team has lost all four group-stage matches in England after finishing at the bottom of the standings in last year's Women's ODI World Cup.
Pakistan lost to India by 64 runs in their opening match before suffering a two-wicket defeat to South Africa. They crashed to a 113-run loss against Australia in Leeds. After the defeat, captain Fatima Sana admitted that the team had produced its poorest performance of the tournament.
"I think we just played our worst cricket in this game, and as a whole team we need to accept that. We need to go back, reflect, and improve ourselves."
After the T20 World Cup, the Pakistan skipper will join Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. She became the first Pakistani player to feature in the women's Hundred after replacing Australian cricketer Lucy Hamilton.
