In a nail-biting finish at the Nassau County Stadium in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on June 9, Pakistan lost to India by 6 runs in a 120-run chase. Despite a strong start in restricting India to 119 in 19 overs, thanks to exceptional bowling from Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who both took 3/21, Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered.

Chasing 120, Pakistan’s innings stumbled as they reached 73/3 when Imad Wasim came to the crease. The experienced all-rounder, however, struggled to keep the momentum, scoring only 15 runs off 23 balls. With 18 runs needed in the final over, Wasim was dismissed, leaving Pakistan short of the target and sparking a wave of criticism on social media.

Social media controversy: Iftikhar Ahmed’s ‘Like’ raises eyebrows

The aftermath of the defeat saw more than just disappointment from fans. A Twitter user posted a sarcastic compilation of Imad Wasim’s batting performance, dubbing it an “Imad Wasim masterclass 15(23) v India.” The situation escalated when Iftikhar Ahmed, one of Pakistan’s explosive batters, liked the tweet. This action did not go unnoticed by fans, leading to speculation about internal discord within the Pakistan dressing room.

Pakistan’s struggle in the T20 World Cup

The loss to India added to Pakistan’s woes, as they have yet to score any points in the tournament. At the time of writing, Pakistan is competing against Canada, who are at 72/5 after 13 overs, having been asked to bat first. A defeat in this match would result in Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup, crashing out in the first round.

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As Pakistan fights to stay in the tournament, the dressing room atmosphere appears tense, with Iftikhar Ahmed’s social media activity fueling rumors of discord. The team faces a critical juncture, needing to overcome both on-field challenges and off-field controversies to keep their World Cup hopes alive.