Colombo, February 18, 2026 –Pakistan vs Namibia T20 ICC World Cup: After a tense week following their loss to India, Pakistan silenced their critics with a complete performance against Namibia. Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a daunting 199/3, with Sahibzada Farhan carrying his bat for a brilliant 100*. In response, the Namibian batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of a 200-run chase, bundled out for a mere 97 as mystery spinner Usman Tariq claimed a sensational four-wicket haul.
Pakistan vs Namibia Match Overview: Redemption in Colombo
With their tournament life on the line, Pakistan made several bold changes, including resting senior stalwarts to give youth a chance. The gamble paid off immediately. Sahibzada Farhan, who has been prolific in domestic cricket, looked in sublime touch from the first ball. Despite the early loss of Saim Ayub (14), Farhan found an able partner in captain Salman Agha (38). The pair added 67 runs for the second wicket, laying the foundation for a late-innings explosion.
Shadab Khan then joined Farhan to provide the finishing kick, smashing three sixes in his 22-ball 36. Pakistan’s final total of 199 proved to be an insurmountable mountain for Namibia.
Namibia’s chase started with a flurry of boundaries from Louren Steenkamp (23), but once the spinners were introduced, the game turned into a procession. Usman Tariq, the latest mystery spinner in the Pakistan ranks, proved impossible to read, picking up two wickets in his first over. Shadab Khan supported him brilliantly with three wickets of his own, ensuring Namibia’s dream of an upset ended in a nightmare.
Match Scorecard: Detailed Statistics
1st Innings: Pakistan Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Sahibzada Farhan | not out | 100 | 58 | 11 | 4 | 172.41 |
| Saim Ayub | c Green b Brassell | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Salman Agha (c) | c Erasmus b Brassell | 38 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 165.22 |
| Khawaja Nafay | c & b Erasmus | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Shadab Khan | not out | 36 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 163.64 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 4) | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 199/3 | RR: 9.95 |
Namibia Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Jack Brassell | 4.0 | 0 | 48 | 2 | 12.00 |
| Gerhard Erasmus | 3.0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Bernard Scholtz | 4.0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8.25 |
| JJ Smit | 3.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | 4.0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Willem Myburgh | 2.0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 13.50 |
2nd Innings: Namibia Batting (Target: 200)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Louren Steenkamp | c Usman b Nawaz | 23 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 104.55 |
| Jan Frylinck | b Salman Mirza | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 81.82 |
| Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | run out (Salman Agha/Saim Ayub) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Gerhard Erasmus (c) | c Usman b Shadab | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Alexander Volschenk | st Usman b Shadab | 20 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| JJ Smit | c Shadab b Usman Tariq | 9 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 69.23 |
| Zane Green (wk) | c Saim b Shadab | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | b Usman Tariq | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Willem Myburgh | c Usman b Usman Tariq | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Bernard Scholtz | b Usman Tariq | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Jack Brassell | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 4) | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (17.3 Overs) | 97 (All Out) | RR: 5.54 |
Pakistan Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Usman Tariq | 3.3 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 4.57 |
| Shadab Khan | 4.0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 4.75 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4.0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 |
| Salman Mirza | 2.0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 5.50 |
| Saim Ayub | 2.0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 2.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 8.00 |
Post-Match Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. Sahibzada Farhan: The Hero Pakistan Needed
With the pressure of a must-win game, Farhan’s 100 off 58 balls* was a clinic in T20 batting. He navigated the difficult early overs and shifted gears effortlessly in the final five overs, where Pakistan scored 59 runs. His domestic grind has clearly prepared him for the international spotlight.
2. Usman Tariq: The New Mystery in Town
Namibia’s middle and lower order had no answers for Usman Tariq. With a bowling action that deceives the eye and a sharp googly, Tariq’s 4/16 ensured that there was no “tail-wagging” from Namibia. He is quickly becoming Pakistan’s biggest weapon for the spin-friendly Indian pitches in the Super Eight.
3. Shadab Khan Returns to Form
After a lean patch, Shadab Khan’s all-round performance (36 and 3/19*) is the biggest positive for Pakistan. His three wickets in the middle overs completely broke the momentum of Namibia’s chase, while his partnership with Farhan was the turning point in the first innings.
4. Super Eight Lineup Complete
This victory officially eliminates the USA and Namibia from Group A. Pakistan joins India as the two teams progressing from this group. They will now join a formidable Super Eight Group 2 consisting of Sri Lanka, England, and New Zealand.
Player of the Match: Sahibzada Farhan
For his outstanding unbeaten century (100 off 58*) that set up the massive victory.