In the 35th match of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan won the toss against Namibia and decided to bat first, aiming to set a competitive total in this crucial encounter.
In the match being played in Colombo, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub opened the innings for Pakistan. However, both batters appeared slightly under pressure in the initial overs and adopted a cautious approach at the start.
Pakistan lost their first wicket at 40 runs in 5.1 overs when Saim Ayub was caught out after scoring 14 runs, increasing responsibility on the middle order.
Captain Salman Ali Agha then joined Sahibzada Farhan, and the pair built a solid partnership, taking the team’s score past the 100-run mark. During the stand, Farhan completed his half-century off 37 balls, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes to provide stability to the innings.
Pakistan’s second wicket fell at 107 runs in 12.1 overs when Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for 38 runs, but the partnership had already placed the team in a strong position.
Speaking at the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said that the team was under no pressure and fully prepared for the match. He added that the team had performed well against the USA and aimed to maintain that momentum.
Two changes were made to the Pakistan lineup for today’s match. Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed were left out, while Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafay were included in the playing eleven.
It is worth noting that Pakistan must win this match to secure a place in the Super Eight stage. If the match is washed out due to rain, Pakistan will still qualify for the next round. However, in case of a defeat against Namibia, the USA team will qualify for the Super Eight on the basis of a superior net run rate.
