Irfan Pathan slams Sahibzada Farhan. [Source - X.com]Pakistan crushed Namibia by 102 runs in their final Group A match of the T20 World Cup 2026, sealing a place in the Super 8 stage. Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive 199/3 and then bundled out Namibia with ease, prompting the African side to end their campaign without a single win.The win was extremely important for Pakistan. After losing to India earlier, another defeat could have opened the door for USA to qualify for the Super 8. Pakistan needed this victory badly, and they delivered under pressure on a tricky Sinhalese Sports Club pitch. Opener Sahibzada Farhan starred with a brilliant century. However, his approach at the end of the innings raised eyebrows. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan criticised Farhan for focusing on his personal milestone instead of maximising runs for the team. Sahibzada Farhan’s Century Powers Pakistan to a Massive Total After Pakistan chose to bat first, Sahibzada Farhan looked confident from the powerplay itself. He attacked the bowlers early and kept the scoreboard moving. He brought up his second half-century of the tournament in 37 balls, maintaining a strong scoring rate while keeping wickets in hand. Farhan first built a steady stand with Saim Ayub and later added important runs with captain Salman Agha. As the innings moved forward, he increased the pace and launched an attack on JJ Smit and Jack Brassell, entering the 90s with more than two overs still left to play. At that stage, many batters would try to score as many runs as possible. But Farhan slowed down and focused on reaching his maiden T20I hundred. In the final two overs, he scored just two runs, choosing safe singles instead of risky big shots to complete his century. Sahibzada Farhan’s Century Draws Sharp Words from Irfan Pathan Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who was on air during the match, was not impressed with the way the final over was handled. Watching the approach closely, he felt Pakistan and Sahibzada Farhan missed a chance to add more runs when the innings was set for a big finish. “He definitely has scored a century, but taking a single? Unbelievable. Unbelievable. You would be happy that you have scored a century and that Pakistan have reached 199. But in the last over, you play a defensive shot, then you leave the last ball. Kamaal hai,” Pathan, Pakistan's biggest nemesis said. He believed that in such crucial moments, the team’s total should always come first. With wickets in hand and overs remaining, he expected more attacking shots from a set Farhan instead of a cautious approach, especially when a strong finish could have pushed the score even higher. Farhan’s Late Approach Leaves Room for Debate In the end, Irfan Pathan’s criticism felt justified. In the final two overs, Sahibzada Farhan appeared to lose his attacking intent. Instead of going for big shots, he chose a cautious path, taking safe singles to reach his maiden T20I century rather than fully accelerating. To make matters worse, he let the final ball go after failing to reach a wide delivery from Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus. The over was not maximised, and without Shadab Khan’s two sixes, Pakistan might not have reached the competitive total of 199.
