India, Feb. 28 -- Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign is over, and this time there was no late twist to save it.

Needing not just a win but a massive one against Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 game, Pakistan were effectively knocked out the moment Sri Lanka crossed the 147-run mark in the chase. Even if Pakistan won the match by five runs, the net run-rate equation had already turned against them, ending their semi-final hopes in Group 2.

Pakistan had given themselves a platform with a commanding first-innings effort, posting 212/8 after a blistering opening stand led by Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. Farhan's hundred and Fakhar's attacking innings had briefly revived hopes that Pakistan could pull off the kind of runaway win n...