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The high-on-confidence in-form Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan does not seem worried about facing the pace of England’s Jofra Archer in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 24. Farhan said that he has plans to counter Archer and hopes for a good contest.
“It is no big deal to face Jofra Archer. We have faced him earlier too. We also have good wickets back home and bowlers who can bowl at 145 (kmph). You said that he must have planned how to bowl against me. But I have also planned. Hopefully, we will have a good contest,” Farhan said.
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In-form Archer to pose a threat
However, the Pakistan opener may be troubled by hard lengths Archer bowls at. After lacklustre performances against Nepal and West Indies, Archer has regained form. He took two wickets each against Scotland, Italy and Sri Lanka. Currently, he is England's joint-highest wicket-taker alongside leg-spinner Adil Rashid. He has eight wickets at an average of 21.13.
Archer made his T20I debut against Pakistan in 2019, bagging two wickets. Five years later, he picked up three wickets from T20Is in 2024.
Farhan leading the charts ahead of English challenge
On the other hand, Farhan will be facing England bowlers in T20Is for the first time. So far, the 29-year-old is the leading run-scorer in the tournament, just ahead of West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer (219 runs) and Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka (208 runs). From four innings, he has 220 runs at an average of 73.33 and strike rate of 164.18. He scored a century against Namibia in the must-win group stage clash.
Pakistan’s batting woes for crucial clash after washout
Pakistan’s first Super 8 game against New Zealand was washed out due to rain. They are desperate for a win against England who defeated co-hosts Sri Lanka and seem to be peaking at the right time. Farhan wants Pakistan’s misfiring batting lineup to come good in the crucial clash.
“We have collapsed in our batting. We are doing well with our bowling, the spinners particularly. But we will have to think about batting because if you look at T20 cricket, your top three or top four should be able to score more runs. We have not been able to do that. But the boys are working hard, and they are focused on the next match,” the opener said.
Apart from Farhan, no Pakistan batter has crossed the 100-run mark in the tournament. Shadab Khan is next on the list with 88 runs from four innings. Saim Ayub has failed to convert starts whereas Babar Azam hasn't benefitted from his demotion in the batting order and skipper Salman Agha is yet to lead from the front.
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