Pakistan crush Namibia to secure Super 8 spot; Sahibzada Farhan hits historic ton
Pakistan crush Namibia to secure Super 8 spot; Sahibzada Farhan hits historic ton
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan has officially qualified for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after a comprehensive 102-run victory over Namibia in their final Group A fixture on Wednesday.
Opting to bat first in this high-stakes encounter, Pakistan posted a daunting total of 199/3 in their 20 overs, powered by a masterclass maiden century from opener Sahibzada Farhan. In response, Namibia’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of a massive chase, eventually being bundled out for just 97 runs in 17.3 overs.
Farhan’s Historic Century Highlights Pakistan’s Innings
The innings was defined by Sahibzada Farhan, who anchored the Pakistani side with exceptional composure and aggression. Farhan reached his century off just 57 deliveries, smashing 11 boundaries and 4 sixes. With this milestone, he becomes only the second Pakistani batsman—after Ahmed Shehzad—to score a century in a T20 World Cup.
While opening partner Saim Ayub (14) fell early, Farhan found reliable support in Salman Ali Agha (38), with whom he shared a 67-run partnership. Following the brief departure of Khawaja Nafay (5), Shadab Khan joined Farhan to accelerate the scoring.
The duo stitched together an explosive 81-run stand for the fourth wicket, with Shadab remaining unbeaten on 36 off 22 balls, propelling the team to a total of 199.
Namibia’s chase started with a 32-run opening stand between Lourens Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck, but the momentum shifted rapidly once Salman Mirza dismissed Frylinck (9). The Namibian middle order offered little resistance as wickets fell in quick succession.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus (7) was caught behind off the bowling of Shadab Khan, while opener Steenkamp (23) was sent back by Mohammad Nawaz. As the required run rate climbed, Namibia’s lineup disintegrated, with eight players failing to reach double figures.
Pakistan’s bowlers were relentless in defending the total. Usman Tariq was the standout performer, dismantling the lower order to finish with remarkable figures of 4 for 16. Shadab Khan complimented the attack with 3 for 19, while Salman Mirza and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket each to secure the emphatic win.
With this victory, Pakistan and India advance from Group A into the Super 8 stage. Pakistan is now set to face a rigorous schedule in the next round, where they are grouped with New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s Super 8 Schedule:
February 21: vs. New Zealand
February 24: vs. England
February 28: vs. Sri Lanka
