Sahibzada Farhan Joins Elite List with Historic Century Against Namibia
COLOMBO – In a high-stakes encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Sahibzada Farhan etched his name into the record books, becoming only the second Pakistani batter in history to score a century in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His blistered unbeaten ton propelled Pakistan to a commanding 199 for three against Namibia, keeping their Super 8 qualification hopes alive.
A Historic Innings in Colombo
Facing a must-win situation following a defeat to arch-rivals India, Pakistan required a dominant performance. Farhan delivered exactly that, reaching the three-figure mark on the final delivery of the innings. He worked a delivery from Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus through midwicket for a single to secure the milestone.
Farhan’s innings ended on an unbeaten 100 off just 57 balls, striking at 175.43. This feat ends a decade-long wait for a Pakistani centurion on the world stage, the last being Ahmed Shehzad’s 111* against Bangladesh in Mirpur during the 2014 edition.
Match Statistics: Sahibzada Farhan
| Metric | Performance |
|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 100* |
| Balls Faced | 57 |
| Strike Rate | 175.43 |
| Boundaries (4s/6s) | 11 / 4 |
Partnerships and Power Hitting
Pakistan’s inning was constructed on the back of two significant partnerships involving Farhan. After opting to bat first, the opener anchored the innings while aggressive cameos from the middle order accelerated the scoring rate.
- With Salman Agha: The pair added 67 runs, with skipper Agha contributing a brisk 38 off 23 balls.
- With Shadab Khan: An explosive 81-run stand followed, with Shadab Khan smashing an unbeaten 36 off 22 balls.
Shadab provided the final flourish, launching two sixes off Erasmus in the 20th over to ensure Pakistan set a formidable target of 200.
Tactical Shake-up: Shaheen Afridi Dropped
The match was preceded by significant selection drama. Following the loss to India on Sunday, the team management made bold changes to the playing XI, dropping star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
The exclusions paved the way for fresh talent:
- Salman Mirza was brought in to bolster the pace attack.
- Khawaja Nafay was included to add depth to the batting lineup.
This victory serves as a crucial lifeline for Pakistan in the group stages. The team now looks ahead to the remaining fixtures, needing consistent results to secure a spot in the Super 8s.