Pakistan produced a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia in their final Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, cruising into the Super 8s on the back of a sparkling century from Sahibzada Farhan.
Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan piled up a big 199 for 3 in their 20 overs. Farhan was the star of the innings, smashing an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes to power the total. Captain Salman Ali Agha gave good company with 38 off 23, and Shadab Khan finished strong with 36 not out.
Then came the quirky subplot: Babar Azam, though named in the playing XI, never got to bat. He was listed in the scorecard but didn’t step out to the crease as Pakistan rode big partnerships and Farhan’s ton kept the scoreboard ticking.
Pakistan’s bowling was equally impressive. Spinners Usman Tariq and Shadab Khan strangled the chase, with Tariq taking 4 for 16 and Shadab grabbing 3 for 19 as Namibia were dismissed for 97 in just 17.3 overs.
After the game, Pakistan players insisted there was a clear plan behind the batting order — that Babar “exactly knows his role,” and the team backed the strategy as part of their winning formula. Shadab Khan also pointed out that in a tournament, players need to put team goals first and not take such decisions personally.
Fans and pundits had a field day online. Some joked that Babar stayed so relaxed in the dugout he might have finished a cup of tea, while others questioned whether not batting one of your best batsmen is bold strategy or bold comedy. The match, in any case, kept cricket debates lively on social media.
In the end, this heavy win not only put Pakistan into the next round but also gave them a confidence boost after a tough loss earlier in the group stage.