Phil Salt out first ball as Shaheen's swinging perfect start reshapes England v Pakistan Super 8 chase

Why this matters now: Shaheen Shah Afridi’s return to Pakistan’s playing XI produced an immediate swing in momentum that hit England where it hurt—phil salt was gone on the first ball of a 165-run chase, and two more top-order wickets followed in the powerplay. That early damage altered how the chase unfolded and put extra strain on England’s middle order in Super 8 Group 2 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Immediate impact on England: Phil Salt removed and momentum flips

Here’s the part that matters: Phil Salt was dismissed on the first ball of England’s 165-run chase, losing a crucial wicket before the innings could settle. The early loss changed the chase dynamics and forced England to rebuild under pressure. The real question now is how much that powerplay collapse cost England later in the innings.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s swing and the powerplay three-for

Shaheen Shah Afridi, back in the playing XI for the Super 8 match against England, rocked the rivals in the powerplay overs by taking three wickets across his three overs. He dismissed Phil Salt on that first ball of the chase, removed Jos Buttler in his second over (Buttler finished with 2 runs off 3 balls) and sent back Jacob Bethell in his third over (Bethell scored 8 off 10). Shaheen had earlier been dropped for the Namibia match and was not part of Pakistan’s first Super 8 contest against New Zealand, which was called off due to rain; management added him to the squad for the important game against the Harry Brook-led side. It’s easy to overlook, but Afridi had been hit to all parts of the ground by the Indian batters in previous action, a detail that helps explain selectors’ shifts before this match.

Pakistan’s innings: 164/9 and the contributions that mattered

Earlier, the Men in Green posted 164/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 63 off 45 deliveries, laced with 7 fours and 2 sixes. Other contributors included Babar Azam (25 off 24), Fakhar Zaman (25 off 16) and Shadab Khan (23 off 11). That total set the 165-run target England needed to chase.

England’s bowling support and match balance

While Shaheen’s triple strike grabbed the headlines for Pakistan, England’s bowling attack also produced notable returns: Liam Dawson was the most successful for England with three wickets, and Jofra Archer plus Jamie Overton added two scalps each. Those figures indicate England had seam options working, but the early damage from Shaheen in the powerplay forced them to defend rather than dominate the chase from the outset.

• Pakistan posted 164/9 in 20 overs; target set was 165.
• Sahibzada Farhan: 63 runs from 45 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes).
• Babar Azam: 25 off 24; Fakhar Zaman: 25 off 16; Shadab Khan: 23 off 11.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi: 3 wickets in 3 overs in the powerplay, including Phil Salt (first ball of chase), Jos Buttler (2 off 3), Jacob Bethell (8 off 10).
• England bowlers: Liam Dawson 3 wickets; Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton 2 wickets each.

What’s easy to miss is how selection swings influenced the game: Afridi’s reinsertion after being left out for the Namibia match and Pakistan’s rain-affected Super 8 opener against New Zealand set up this decisive availability for the match versus the Harry Brook-led side.

Also noted in coverage was a contributor profile: Mohd Asim, described as an ardent Team India and Virat Kohli fan and an Arsenal supporter, has been associated with cricket coverage for several years. That background appears in commentary around the match.

The bigger signal here is that when left-arm pace with late swing hits early in the chase, the psychological cost to a batting side is immediate—losing an opener like phil salt on the first delivery puts a premium on rebuilding and changes the chase script. If England are to recover in tournament position and in future match-ups, their middle order will need to absorb early blows and convert starts into bigger partnerships.

Final note: match identifiers and stage — England vs Pakistan, 45th Match, Super 8 Group 2 in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 — frame this as a high-stakes group fixture where selection moves and early overs were decisive. Schedule and selection context were pivotal to how this game unfolded.