pakistan national cricket team vs namibia national cricket team standings: Farhan century fires Pakistan into Super 8s
Short intro: Sahibzada Farhan's maiden international T20 century and an incisive spin display from Usman Tariq powered Pakistan to a 102-run victory over Namibia on Wednesday (ET), ensuring Pakistan the final berth in the Super 8s and altering the tournament standings heading into the next phase.
Farhan takes charge as Pakistan post 199-3
After winning the toss and electing to bat in Colombo, Pakistan recovered from early jitters to compile a formidable 199 for 3. Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan produced a composed, match-defining innings—an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls that included 11 fours and four sixes. His century was built around a patient start; Farhan later said his sustained run in domestic cricket had prepared him for the moment and that he aimed to first stabilise the innings before accelerating.
Captain Salman Ali Agha contributed a useful 38, while Shadab Khan provided the late impetus with an undefeated 36. The partnership structure and well-timed hitting allowed Pakistan to post a total that proved beyond the reach of the visitors on a surface that offered some assistance to spin.
Spin does the damage as Namibia collapses
Namibia’s chase never gained traction. Usman Tariq emerged as the star of the bowling attack, exploiting the surface with a distinctive pause-and-bowl action that created constant doubt in the batter’s mind. Tariq finished with figures of 4 for 16, choking the innings and removing key wickets at regular intervals. Shadab Khan supported with 3 for 19 as Namibia were bundled out for 97 in 17. 3 overs.
The wrist and off-spin combination proved decisive; Pakistan spinners applied pressure that translated into mistimed shots and induced false strokes. Namibia’s fourth straight loss in the tournament left them with heavy work to do in future fixtures, while Pakistan’s bowlers earned praise for operating with discipline and variety throughout the innings.
Standings impact and Super 8s picture
The victory confirmed Pakistan as the final qualifier for the Super 8s, joining the other seeded and qualified teams in what reshuffles the standings and group make-up for the next phase. Pakistan will slot into a Super 8 group that already contained Sri Lanka and New Zealand, setting up high-stakes fixtures against established opponents.
Elsewhere in the group stage, South Africa completed their run unbeaten after defeating the United Arab Emirates. The Proteas chased 123 with ease, sealing a comfortable victory with 40 balls remaining and reinforcing their status as one of the form sides heading into the Super 8s.
For Pakistan, the win is validation of both recent player selection and tactical decisions. Farhan’s century answers questions about middle-order potency and offers a fresh option at the top, while Tariq’s spell introduces a spin threat that teams will need to plan for carefully.
What to watch next
With the Super 8s now taking shape, attention shifts to how teams manage workload and match-ups. Pakistan will look to maintain momentum and refine combinations, particularly around spin resources and middle-order finishing. Namibia will head back to the drawing board to address recurring batting frailties and seek more consistent starts.
The coming days will reveal whether Pakistan can translate this dominant Group stage finish into the same form against the stronger line-ups that await in the Super 8s, and whether emerging performers like Farhan and Tariq can sustain their breakthroughs at the highest level.
