Mohit Sharma Slams Pakistan Cricket Culture, Says Players Obsessed With India

Mohit Sharma criticised Pakistan cricketers for focusing on India and past wins instead of improving their performance after the T20 World Cup 2026 defeat.

Tension continues within Pakistan cricket after the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. A public verbal fight started between current players and former stars. Shadab Khan responded to criticism from Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf and others, noting the team’s 10-wicket win over India in Dubai in 2021. His remarks invited further backlash from Basit Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq.

Former India pacer Mohit Sharma criticised the ongoing debate, saying Pakistan players remain focused on India rather than improving their own performances. He suggested that constant comparisons with past wins are preventing progress. According to Sharma, discussions should centre on World Cup performance, planning and development.

“All the Pakistan cricketers are still talking about it. They are just not concerned about themselves. They are fighting about who defeated India and who did not. They are not talking about the World Cup, how we need to play in it, or how we need to improve. They are just hell-bent on talking about India. When you talk, it’s not about you winning and beating the other person; then you cannot move forward. They are living in the past, and I don’t think they can move ahead in the coming future,” Mohit Sharma told Cricbuzz.

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Former India batter Manoj Tiwary also supported recent criticism of Pakistan cricket, saying progress requires leadership and clear decision-making. Tiwary pointed to visible frustration between head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha during the previous match.

“If any country wants to move ahead, then the leader should be firm in his or her decision-making. There should be clarity, and freedom should be given. I don’t think the PCB chief has given full freedom. Mike Hesson is the current head coach, and he is trying to take the team along,” said Tiwary.

“In the last game, we saw things got a bit frustrated between Hesson and the captain, Salman Ali Agha. Babar Azam was not sent out. Agha threw the bottle. It just proves that trust isn’t there,” he added.

Notably, India continues to dominate Pakistan in World Cups. Their only defeat came in 2021 in Dubai. The latest win, a 61-run win on February 15 in Colombo, improved India’s T20 World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-1. Pakistan will next face England on February 24 in their Super 8 match.