T20 World Cup 2026: “We must not give importance,” Kaif launches scathing attack on Amir for questioning India’s prospects

Amir had predicted that India won’t be able to reach the semifinals.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has launched a scathing attack on Mohammad Amir after the former Pakistan pacer continued to question India’s prospects in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Amir had earlier predicted that the defending champions won’t be able to reach the semifinals. However, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side proved him wrong by beating West Indies in a do-or-die Super 8 clash to qualify for the final-four stage.

Despite facing social media backlash for his wrong prediction, Amir reiterated that India are not playing good cricket and won’t make the final. At the start of the tournament, he had stirred a controversy by labelling India opener Abhishek Sharma a 'slogger'.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif accused Amir of making provocative forecasts about India merely to grab headlines, while also asserting that such comments should not be taken seriously.

"Did Amir really not know that India would reach the semifinals? He also knew it, that the defending champions will make it. But because it will become news, they do all these things. We must not give them importance. There is no need for us to come down to their level and reply," Kaif said.

Kaif went on to take a dig at Amir by mentioning Pakistan’s humiliating loss against the USA in the T20 World Cup 2024, questioning the latter’s composure in that Super Over and suggesting that the left-arm seamer had little ground to criticise others.

"The loss that they faced against the USA in 2024, it was the same bowler who was the reason. In that over, there was only one boundary, but too many wides. His ball did not even land on the stumps. Who got scared against that USA team and made his team lose the game, then I do not have to say more," Kaif remarked.

He added, "Why are we focusing on him? The country that is so behind in the sport, they have no players, no solid captain, or a solid bowler, nothing. Just let them be. We don't have to talk about everything they talk. They cannot come to our level. They have different problems. If we focus on their comments, it is like we are giving them importance, and that is what they want anyway."

India will face England in the second semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday (March 5).