pakistan vs namibia: Farhan century guides Pakistan into Super 8s
Pakistan secured the final Super 8s berth at the T20 World Cup with a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). An unbeaten century from Sahibzada Farhan and a match-turning spell from off-spinner Usman Tariq ensured Pakistan closed out the group stage in style.
Farhan's hundred sets the tone as Pakistan post 199-3
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Pakistan built a big total on a surface that offered rewards for bold strokeplay. Openers provided the platform before Sahibzada Farhan took charge, compiling an unbeaten 100 from 58 balls that featured four sixes and 11 boundaries. A crucial stand with captain Salman Ali Agha — who contributed 38 — steadied the innings after early hiccups, and Shadab Khan's unbeaten 36 late on helped push the score to a formidable 199 for 3.
Farhan reflected on his run of domestic consistency and the approach that produced his maiden international T20 century: "I have played four years of domestic cricket continuously. I don't think I've even missed a game in the last four years. My hard work in what I was doing in domestic cricket in Pakistan has paid off. The start on this wicket wasn't easy. I told my captain as well that we will play normal cricket and then play our game. I was confident that I can set a big target for the team if we got through the early stages. We lost a couple of wickets in quick succession. The idea was to build a partnership before I could take charge. "
Tariq and Shadab collapse Namibia for 97
Namibia's chase never gained momentum. Pakistan spinners returned to the fore, with off-spinner Usman Tariq using a distinctive pause-and-bowl action to bamboozle batters and finish with figures of 4 for 16. Senior wrist-spinner Shadab Khan backed him up with 3 for 19 as Namibia were bundled out for 97 in 17. 3 overs.
The dismissal sequence exposed a lack of partnerships in the Namibian line-up. Early wickets increased the scoring pressure and flurries of spin made risks even harder to justify. Once Tariq struck, the collapse accelerated, leaving the visiting side well short of the target and marking their fourth defeat of the competition.
What the result means and what's next
The victory hands Pakistan the final place in the Super 8s, completing the group-stage shake-up and setting up tougher assignments in the next round. Pakistan join seeded sides already through to the Super 8s, reshaping the landscape for the next phase of the tournament.
For Namibia, the loss underlines recurring issues in the competition: building meaningful partnerships and countering quality spin. The team will regroup after the tournament to address those weaknesses, but for now the focus shifts to the lessons from high-pressure global contests.
Pakistan leave Colombo with momentum and a clear blueprint: aggressive powerplay intent, a middle order that can accelerate, and a spin combination capable of exploiting calmer surfaces. Farhan's innings will be remembered as a breakthrough on the big stage, while Tariq's clever variations give Pakistan another weapon as they prepare for the Super 8s.
