'I have no answer' - Pakistan women's painful loss to Bangladesh leaves mentor Wahab Riaz lost for words

Pakistan women’s cricket team mentor Wahab Riaz was visibly lost for words as he faced the press after the side’s 23‑run defeat to Bangladesh in Southampton at the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup.

The result marked Pakistan’s third consecutive loss in the tournament, effectively ending their hopes of reaching the semifinals. Chasing a modest 124 in 20 overs, Fatima Sana’s team looked well placed at 64/2 halfway through the innings, needing just a run‑a‑ball to get over the line.

But what followed was a collapse that stunned everyone. Pakistan managed only 36 runs in the final 10 overs, losing six wickets and finishing at 100/8. Remarkably, they failed to hit a single boundary after the eighth over.

In the post‑match press conference, Wahab admitted he was at a loss to explain the implosion.

“When you are 72 for 2 in 12 overs, [needing] just six runs in an over, and then suddenly, I have no answer for that, to be very honest,” he said. “I think we have defeated ourselves, and the credit goes to the Bangladesh team that they kept their nerves. I think the credit goes to them.”

Bangladesh’s left‑arm spin pair of Nahida Akter (3/18) and Sanjida Akter Meghla (3/21) were the architects of Pakistan’s downfall, choking the middle overs. Nahida’s spell earned her the Player of the Match award.
Wahab acknowledged their effort but stressed Pakistan’s failure was more about execution than conditions.

“I think they bowled well, but there was not that much of spin or grip or turn on the wicket which have created problems for you,” he said. “I think it’s just the execution. You cannot do it. You should have taken the game two‑three overs before that. The game should have been finished three overs before the time. But if you’re letting the things go and you’re not scoring runs, then any opposition is going to catch you and things will be difficult for you.”

Wahab urges senior players to take more responsibility

He urged senior players to shoulder greater responsibility in situations like these.

“I think the senior players have to take responsibility,” Wahab said. “You cannot let them go away like this, that they come in and they need to read the situation well. It was just six an over. It was under six an over, I would say. But again, the execution is not right. They have to take the responsibility. The players have to step up.”

Wahab concluded by stressing that Pakistan did not need big hitting, only smarter cricket.

“I don’t believe that it was a game where you have to smash the ball in the air. It was just [that] you need to be more sensible, I would say. It is just being more sensible about the game, [and] how you have to take this game away.”