Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat in Match 35 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The Group A encounter took place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on February 18, 2026. After a stinging defeat to India in their previous game, Pakistan entered this must-win fixture needing a victory to secure their place in the Super 8s.
The Pakistan side was led by Salman Ali Agha, with Usman Khan keeping wickets. Namibia, captained by Gerhard Erasmus, aimed to end their tournament on a high note but faced a daunting task against a rejuvenated Pakistani lineup. The match saw a historic milestone as Sahibzada Farhan became only the second Pakistani player to score a century in a T20 World Cup.
Pakistan produced a clinical performance to dismantle Namibia by 102 runs. They posted a mammoth 199 on the board, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s unbeaten hundred, before the “mystery spin” of Usman Tariq and the experience of Shadab Khan bundled out Namibia for a meager 97. This victory officially confirmed Pakistan as the eighth and final team to qualify for the Super 8 stage.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs |
| Pakistan | 199/3 | 20.0 |
| Namibia | 97/10 | 17.3 |
| Result | Pakistan won by 102 runs |
Farhan’s Historic Century Powers Pakistan
Pakistan’s innings was defined by a masterclass from Sahibzada Farhan. After a steady 40-run opening stand with Saim Ayub (14), Farhan took control of the game. He reached his maiden T20I century off just 57 balls, finishing 100 off 58 deliveries* with 11 fours and 4 sixes.
Farhan found excellent support from skipper Salman Ali Agha, who struck a brisk 38 off 23 balls before being caught off Jack Brassell. Following Agha’s departure, Shadab Khan provided the late-innings fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 36 off 22 balls. The pair accelerated brilliantly in the death overs, taking Pakistan to a formidable total of 199. Jack Brassell was the pick of the Namibian bowlers, claiming 2 for 48.
Spin Barrage Dismantles Namibia
Chasing 200, Namibia started with intent as Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck found early boundaries. However, once the Powerplay ended, the Pakistani spinners took total control. Shadab Khan broke the opening stand and finished with tight figures of 2 for 19.
The star with the ball was mystery spinner Usman Tariq, whose introduction completely paralyzed the Namibian middle order. Tariq’s variations proved too complex for the associate nation, as he ripped through the lineup to claim 4 wickets for just 16 runs. Namibia collapsed from a steady start to 97 all out in 17.3 overs, with only Steenkamp and Alexander Volschenk managing to cross the 20-run mark.
Top Batting Performances
| Batter | Team | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Pakistan | 100 | 58 | 11 | 4 |
| Salman Ali Agha | Pakistan | 38 | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 36 | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| Louren Steenkamp | Namibia | 23 | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| Alexander Volschenk | Namibia | 20 | 20 | 1 | 1 |
Qualification Secured
The 102-run victory was exactly what Pakistan needed to boost their Net Run Rate and morale. By winning this match, they joined India as the two teams progressing from Group A. The match also highlighted Pakistan’s growing reliance on their spin department, which accounted for seven of the ten Namibian wickets to fall.
Top Bowling Performances
| Bowler | Team | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Usman Tariq | Pakistan | 3.3 | 16 | 4 | 4.60 |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 4.0 | 19 | 3 | 4.80 |
| Jack Brassell | Namibia | 4.0 | 48 | 2 | 12.00 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Pakistan | 4.0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 |
| Salman Mirza | Pakistan | 2.0 | 11 | 1 | 5.50 |
Player of the Match: Sahibzada Farhan
Sahibzada Farhan was the unanimous choice for Player of the Match. His historic century not only guided Pakistan to a massive total but also made him the first batter in the 2026 tournament to surpass the 200-run milestone.
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