Pakistan dominated their fourth Group A fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026, recording a commanding 102-run win over Namibia on February 18. The win was fueled by a roaring batting from Sahibzada Farhan, who became only the second Pakistani batter to score a century in the tournament's history with an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls. The bowling unit followed up clinically, as spinners Usman Tariq and Shadab Khan dismantled the Namibian lineup with four and three wickets, respectively. This decisive result officially earns the "Men in Green" a spot in the Super 8s, where they are slated to face New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
While Farhan stole the headlines, the Pakistani innings was bolstered by solid contributions from Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan. Salman, batting at number three, looked sharp with a quick-fire 38 off 23 deliveries before being dismissed by Jack Brassell on the opening ball of the 13th over. Shadab provided the finishing touch later in the innings, remaining not out with 36 runs from 22 balls to help set a formidable target for the associate side.
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Furious Salman Agha engages in tense exchange with Mike Hesson
However, more than the victory, what caught everyone's attention was a heated moment in the Pakistani dugout involving Salman Ali Agha and head coach Mike Hesson. Following his dismissal, a viral video captured Salman engaged in a tense, animated exchange with Hesson. The middle-order batter appeared to lose his composure, eventually banging a water bottle in frustration as he returned to the bench.
Sahibzada Farhan hogs limelight with stunning ton
Talking about the match, Sahibzada became only the second Pakistani cricketer to crack a century in the T20 World Cup. Playing against Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Farhan reached the prestigious 100-run milestone in just 57 deliveries. His historic performance provided a massive boost to the side led by Salman Ali Agha.
This feat ends a long wait for a Pakistani T20 World Cup centurion, as the first was achieved by Ahmed Shehzad over a decade ago. Shehzad scored 111 runs off 62 balls against Bangladesh in Mirpur on March 30, 2014. Farhan now joins Shehzad in this exclusive club, marking a significant individual achievement in Pakistan's tournament history.
Farhan's innings was a masterclass in power and precision, featuring 11 boundaries and 4 sixes. He anchored several key partnerships throughout the innings, including an opening stand of 40 with Saim Ayub and a 67-run second-wicket partnership with Salman Ali Agha. He finished the innings strongly alongside Shadab Khan, with the pair adding a rapid 81 runs in just 40 balls for the fourth wicket. In reply, Namibia's innings was folded for mere 97, thanks to Usman Tariq's fiery four-fer.