Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads. After a painful early exit from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy on home soil — ending winless in the group stage despite being the hosts — the team, the selectors, and the fans are all looking ahead to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a mixture of hope, anxiety and determination. This is what you need to know about where Pakistan cricket stands heading into the tournament, who leads the squad, and what it will take to restore the nation’s pride on the global stage.

The 2025 Champions Trophy — A Low Point to Learn From

Pakistan’s group stage exit from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy stung in a way that few cricket disappointments in recent memory have. The country had waited almost 29 years to host a major international tournament. Stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi were packed with passionate crowds. The expectations were enormous. The team delivered none of it.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan publicly acknowledged the letdown felt across the country. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s response was swift — players were fined for the failures, and a review process was initiated. New coaching arrangements followed, with Azhar Mahmood taking the Test head coach role, Mike Hesson taking charge of white-ball cricket, and Shane McDermott brought in as fielding coach.

It was a reset that the team needed, even if the manner in which it happened was uncomfortable.

Pakistan’s Current Leadership Setup

Key Players to Watch in T20 World Cup 2026

The PCB Fines — What Happened?

Pakistan’s cricket board made headlines in early 2026 when it fined all squad players PKR 5 million each following the team’s failure to reach the semi-finals of their fourth consecutive ICC event. The move was unprecedented in scale and divided opinion sharply. Critics argued that fining players rather than addressing structural issues in domestic cricket was the wrong approach. Supporters maintained that accountability at the top level sends a necessary message.

Additionally, fast bowler Naseem Shah was separately fined PKR 20 million for breaching his central contract through a social media post about a political figure — a reminder that issues both on and off the field have complicated Pakistan’s cricketing environment in 2026.

What Pakistan Need to Fix Before the World Cup

Honest assessment of Pakistan’s T20 cricket reveals several persistent weaknesses that have cost them in big tournaments. The batting lineup, despite its individual talent, has a tendency to collapse under pressure. The middle order in particular has been a recurring area of concern. Fielding has improved but remains inconsistent. And the team’s decision-making in high-pressure situations — when to attack, when to defend, how to read conditions — has too often let them down when it matters most.

Mike Hesson, an experienced coach who has worked at the highest levels of international cricket, will have identified these issues. Whether he has the time and the environment to address them before the tournament begins is the critical question.

Why Pakistan Can Still Win the World Cup

For all the justified criticism, Pakistan remain a genuinely dangerous team in the T20 format on their day. The bowling attack, when all its key members are fit and in form, is among the most threatening in world cricket. Shaheen Afridi generating reverse swing with an old ball, Naseem Shah hitting the pitch hard from a length, Shadab Khan taking wickets with his leg-spin — this combination troubles every batting lineup in the world.

Pakistan have also proven repeatedly that they are capable of producing stunning performances under pressure when the collective mood is right. The 2017 Champions Trophy win, achieved against the odds, is the template — a team that arrived as underdogs, found their rhythm at the right moment, and beat the best side in the world in the final.

Recreating that would require cohesion, smart selection and a degree of fortune. It is not impossible. It never is with Pakistan.

Schedule and Format

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is the next major tournament on Pakistan’s calendar following the 2025 Champions Trophy. Full fixtures and confirmed venues will be updated on this page as they are officially released. Pakistan cricket fans should follow the ICC’s official channels and PakCitizenGuide for the latest updates.

There are some collaborations that feel inevitable the moment they are announced — and Mitte De Baawe, the upcoming drama pairing Wahaj Ali and Mahira Khan for the very first time on Pakistani television, is exactly that. Since the project was first confirmed, it has dominated entertainment conversations unlike anything else this year. The anticipation is not hype — it is the result of two extraordinary careers finally converging in what could be a genuinely historic piece of Pakistani television.

Why This Drama Is Different

Pakistani dramas have seen many celebrated pairings over the years, but this one carries a different weight. Wahaj Ali has spent the last few years establishing himself as one of the finest television actors of his generation through deeply layered performances in dramas like Tere Bin and Mann Aur Arzoo. Mahira Khan, meanwhile, has long been considered the undisputed queen of Pakistani cinema — her return to television after years away from the small screen is itself major news.

The fact that their first project together is a rural Punjabi saga, written by one of Pakistan’s best writers and directed by an acclaimed director, has only heightened expectations further.

Drama Details

The Writer — Faiza Iftikhar

Faiza Iftikhar is one of the most beloved and commercially successful drama writers in Pakistan. Her scripts are known for their warmth, their understanding of human emotion, and their ability to balance romance with genuine substance. She has written hit after hit over the years, and her involvement in Mitte De Baawe is one of the key reasons the industry expects this to succeed.

The script is described as a rural Punjabi saga — grounded in the language, culture and landscape of Punjab in a way that feels authentic rather than romanticised. BTS glimpses that have surfaced online show earthy, textured visuals that suggest the production is leaning fully into the setting.

Mahira Khan’s Return to Television

Mahira Khan’s last major television appearance was in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay in 2021. Since then, she has focused primarily on cinema and brand work, making her one of the most high-profile faces in Pakistan but a relative rarity on television. Her return through this project is significant — it signals that the right script and the right collaborator were enough to bring her back.

Fans who have followed Mahira’s career know that she does not take projects carelessly. Her track record on television — from Humsafar to Shehr-e-Zaat — is essentially a list of iconic Pakistani dramas. The expectation is that Mitte De Baawe will add to that legacy rather than diminish it.

Wahaj Ali’s Trajectory

Wahaj Ali’s rise has been one of the most impressive stories in Pakistani entertainment over the last few years. He broke into mainstream consciousness with Tere Bin, a drama that became a cultural phenomenon and brought him a level of fan devotion that very few Pakistani actors have experienced. What followed showed that the success was not a fluke — his subsequent work demonstrated range, commitment and genuine acting ability.

Pairing him with Mahira Khan is a bold choice, and from everything that has been shared so far, it appears to be one that both actors embraced enthusiastically.

What Fans Are Saying

The response from the public since the drama was announced has been extraordinary. Social media has been full of edits, fan art and discussions about what the pairing might look like on screen. There is a particular excitement about the rural Punjabi setting — a backdrop that feels authentic and cinematic in equal measure, and one that suits both actors well based on their past work.

Critics and industry insiders have been equally enthusiastic. Several have pointed out that the combination of Faiza Iftikhar’s writing, Mahira’s screen presence and Wahaj’s emotional depth is, on paper, almost impossible to get wrong.

When Does It Air?

An official air date for Mitte De Baawe has not been confirmed at the time of writing. The production appears to be in an advanced stage based on the behind-the-scenes content that has emerged, and industry sources expect it to launch in the second half of 2026. PakCitizenGuide will update this article as soon as a confirmed date is announced.

For now, one thing is clear — when Mitte De Baawe does finally arrive, Pakistani television will have something to celebrate.

Pakistani television in 2026 is having what many critics and viewers are calling its strongest year in a decade. From record-breaking viewership numbers to genuinely compelling stories, the dramas airing this year have moved far beyond the tired tropes that plagued the industry for so long. Whether you are a lifelong viewer or someone who drifted away and is considering coming back, this is a good year to be watching Pakistani television.

Here is a complete guide to the dramas that are currently making the most noise — based on TRP ratings, social media engagement, YouTube views and audience word-of-mouth.

1. Meri Zindagi Hai Tu

2. Muamma

3. Aik Aur Pakeezah

4. Dekh Magar Pyar Se

5. Madawa

Most Anticipated Upcoming Dramas in 2026

The Bigger Picture

What makes 2026 genuinely exciting for Pakistani television is not just the star power on display but the quality of the writing. Showrunners appear to be taking storytelling more seriously, investing in scripts that have something to say rather than simply filling a slot. Social media has also played a role — feedback is instant, audiences are more vocal, and the industry appears to be listening.

If this year continues the way it has started, 2026 could end up being remembered as a genuine golden year for Pakistani drama.

Pakistan’s most-followed TikTok star, Jannat Mirza, is at the centre of a social media storm this week after a video allegedly showing her at an engagement ceremony went viral across platforms. The clip spread with remarkable speed through fan pages, WhatsApp groups and entertainment accounts — and the reaction from the public has been anything but quiet.

As of now, Jannat has neither confirmed nor denied the video. What she has done, however, has only added more fuel to an already blazing fire of speculation.

What Does the Viral Video Show?

In the circulating footage, a woman identified by fans as Jannat Mirza is seen standing beside a man dressed in white. The man appears to place a ring on her finger in what looks like a formal engagement setting. Jannat, in the clip, is wearing a dull gold saree-style outfit paired with emerald and kundan jewellery — an ensemble that clearly lends itself to a ceremonial occasion.

The video is short and the footage is not entirely clear, which has given rise to two camps: those who are convinced it is real, and those who believe it may be digitally manipulated, staged for a project, or simply misidentified.

Jannat’s Response — Mysterious and Deliberately Vague

Jannat Mirza has not posted the video or addressed it directly through any official statement. Instead, she shared a single Instagram story that read: “Me hearing some news about me that I didn’t even know.”

The line is perfectly crafted to give nothing away. It could mean the video is false and she is genuinely unaware of why it is being associated with her. It could also be a playful way of acknowledging something without confirming it. Jannat has always been skilled at managing her public image, and this response — brief, sardonic, and non-committal — fits her style exactly.

The ambiguity has sent fans into overdrive, with theories multiplying by the hour on every platform.

Who Is Jannat Mirza?

For those unfamiliar, Jannat Mirza is one of the most recognisable digital personalities in Pakistan. She has over 25.6 million followers on TikTok and 6.3 million on Instagram, making her the most-followed Pakistani TikToker at her peak. She is known for her lip-sync videos, travel content and photoshoots, and has also appeared in the Punjabi feature film Tere Bajrey Di Rakhi.

She comes from a prominent family — her father, Mirza Anjum Kamal, is a senior police officer, and her sisters Alishba Anjum and Sehar Mirza are themselves popular digital creators.

What About Her Past Relationship?

The viral video has inevitably brought renewed attention to Jannat’s past relationship with fellow TikToker Umer Butt. The two were among the most-followed influencer couples in Pakistan during their time together, and had confirmed their engagement in 2021. The relationship came to an end around late 2022 or early 2023. Both spoke about it publicly — Umer described the split as mutual, while Jannat said she had gradually realised the relationship was not suitable for marriage and that the decision, though difficult, felt like the right one.

Some social media users have been less than kind in their reactions to the new video, referencing the past breakup in their comments. Others have pushed back on that, pointing out that people’s personal lives are their own business.

Is the Video Real or Fake?

This is the question no one can definitively answer yet. A significant portion of fans believe the clip is genuine and that Jannat has quietly gotten engaged to someone new. Another group maintains that the video has been edited or taken out of context — perhaps it is from a project shoot, or the woman in it is not Jannat at all.

What can be said with certainty is that Jannat herself has not confirmed it, and in the absence of confirmation, everything else remains speculation. Given that Jannat has previously been very direct when addressing misinformation about herself, her relatively soft response here has struck many observers as notable.

What Happens Next?

Fans are now waiting. If the video is genuine, Jannat will likely address it in her own time and on her own terms — she has never been someone who lets others control her narrative. If it turns out to be unrelated footage or a project teaser, she will probably clarify that soon enough.

Either way, the conversation around Jannat Mirza this week is louder than it has been in a long time, which is a reminder of just how significant her presence in Pakistan’s digital landscape remains.

PakCitizenGuide will update this article as more information becomes available. Bookmark this page and check back for the latest.

Pakistan’s entertainment industry received some of its most heartwarming news this April when actors Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan Khattak officially confirmed their marriage. The couple, who had captured millions of hearts through their on-screen chemistry in popular dramas, quietly tied the knot before making the announcement public — sparking a wave of love and good wishes from fans across Pakistan and beyond.

How the News Broke

The story began on April 13, 2026, when a blurry photograph from what appeared to be a private nikah ceremony started circulating on social media. The image, believed to have been taken at Ramsha’s home, showed the two dressed in traditional attire with garlands around their necks. Within hours, speculation had taken over every entertainment forum and WhatsApp group in the country.

Ramsha Khan, who had always kept her personal life strictly private, responded quickly through her Instagram story. Rather than confirming or denying the news, she addressed the leak directly: she made clear that their pictures had been shared without their consent, calling it invasive and disrespectful, and asking pages to stop circulating private moments for personal gain.

The response made one thing clear to fans — something had indeed happened, even if the couple was not ready to discuss it publicly just yet.

The Official Confirmation

Four days later, on April 17, 2026, Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan jointly published a post on Instagram that answered every question with warmth and grace. The caption began with Bismillah and went on to say that they were married, that they were incredibly grateful to be stepping into this new chapter together, and that they thanked everyone who had supported them along the way.

The photographs shared with the post showed Ramsha in a richly embroidered maroon bridal outfit paired with heavy jewellery and green choodas. Khushhal complemented her in a dark traditional ensemble with a red shawl. In keeping with their private nature, neither of their faces was visible in any of the images — a detail that felt very much in keeping with who they are as people.

Who Are Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan?

A Love Story That Started On Screen

Ramsha and Khushhal first appeared together in Duniyapur (2024), and their chemistry was immediately noticed by audiences. When they reunited for the drama Biryani (2025), fans were completely sold on the pairing — so much so that people began speculating about a real-life connection long before any confirmation came. The drama itself became one of the most talked-about shows of that year, partly because of how natural and warm the two actors were with each other.

In hindsight, the clues were there. Both Ramsha and Khushhal had quietly removed posts from their Instagram accounts in the days leading up to the leak, which eagle-eyed fans took note of immediately. Several industry insiders had also hinted at a high-profile wedding happening behind the scenes.

Fan and Industry Reaction

The reaction from fans was overwhelmingly positive. Social media platforms were flooded with congratulatory messages, and the hashtag related to their names trended in Pakistan for several days. Colleagues from across the entertainment industry, including actors, directors and producers, shared their well-wishes publicly.

Some fans could not hide their emotion, noting that watching their favourite on-screen couple become a real-life husband and wife felt like a genuinely happy ending.

Will Ramsha Continue Working After Marriage?

Shortly after the confirmation, some sections of social media began speculating that Ramsha might step back from acting following her marriage — a narrative that resurfaces around almost every female celebrity in Pakistan after a wedding. So far, neither Ramsha nor Khushhal has commented on their future professional plans, and there is no indication that either intends to leave the industry. Both remain active, respected names with strong careers ahead of them.

A Quiet Love, Publicly Celebrated

What makes this wedding story stand out is not just the romance but the dignity with which both individuals handled it. They kept it private, they reacted to the leak with composure, and when they did share the news, they did so on their own terms — simply, sincerely, and without fanfare. In an entertainment landscape that often rewards overexposure, that kind of restraint is genuinely refreshing.

PakCitizenGuide wishes Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan Khattak a life full of happiness, love, and success — both personally and professionally.